New Year's Eve Toasts and Resolutions From Kentucky's Win Over Brown

As the confetti falls on New Year’s Eve, Kentucky Basketball turns its calendar to a new year with only two losses in non-conference play. The Wildcats closed the book on 2024 and the out-of-conference schedule by beating the Brown Bears in an afternoon NYE party, bringing UK’s record to 11-2 before the SEC opener on Saturday.

The celebration in Rupp Arena continues here on KentuckySportsRadio.com as we recap the win and count down to midnight. So, put on your party hat and join me in toasting the game’s standouts and setting resolutions for the Wildcats in the Southeastern Conference and 2025.

A toast to…

ANDREW CARR

Playing its first home game in more than two weeks, Kentucky needed to shake off some rust early on against Brown. It was only a five-point game 10 minutes into the action, which is why Andrew Carr was the biggest factor for the Wildcats in the first half. Carr scored all 14 of his points before halftime, including his sixth 3-pointer of the season and a couple of and-one opportunities inside. He was the most aggressive and impactful player when the offense started sluggishly against the Bears. It’s OK that he didn’t score in the second.

OTEGA OWEH

Otega Oweh took over the high-scorer role for Carr after halftime. One of three Wildcats with 13 points in the game, Oweh had 11 of his 13 after intermission, going 5-of-7 from the field in only seven second-half minutes. Oweh also had three second-half steals to help Kentucky match its season-high in steals with eight. The Wildcats forced Brown into 23 turnovers, a season-high for a Kentucky opponent by six swipes (Georgia State).

TRAVIS PERRY AND TRENT NOAH

The two Kentucky boys on the team, Travis Perry and Trent Noah added some homegrown fun to the party with three made 3-pointers between them. First, Perry, debuting a new babyface without a mustache, sank his first and only 3-point try early in the game. Then, the never-shy Noah came in the second half and hit his two 3s, sending Rupp Arena into a frenzy for the kid from the mountains. After the game, Mark Pope joked that he should sub Noah in any time Kentucky needs a 3 because the freshman isn’t afraid to let it fly.

DANCING GUY

As the Big Blue Nation heals and reconnects in this new era under Mark Pope, many fans have asked about Dancing Guy, who was a staple in Rupp Arena and its aisles for many years. Dancing Guy had been notably absent during the revamp of “Mony, Mony” this season until my wandering eyes found him in Section 232 on New Year’s Eve.

I spy with my little eye… Dancing Guy. pic.twitter.com/pEduJLQmf3

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) December 31, 2024

Rupp may not give him attention, but Dancing Guy still dances on this website.

ACADEN LEWIS

Another fun moment beyond the New Year’s Eve basketball: UK signee Jasper Johnson introduced UK signee Acaden Lewis to the crowd. The two future Wildcat guards even caught Pope’s eye during a timeout in the game. Pope admitted he was excited to see Johnson and Lewis together in Rupp when he was supposed to be coaching his current team in the bench huddle. “It was the first time I’d seen them on the court together,” Pope said. “I was like oh this is going to be so fun.”

Jasper Johnson welcomes Acaden Lewis to his new Kentucky home pic.twitter.com/3GZASI0lp2

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 31, 2024

THE UPPER LEVEL OF RUPP ARENA

Fans packed Rupp to the very top of both end zones for the holiday game. Attendance was officially announced at 20,042. Two groups in particular earned a shout-out: Sections 223-225 for trying to start the “O-weh, O-weh” chant and Section 236-237 for sparking most of the loudest cheers, chants, and slow claps during the game. These kids with the “Snackwards Cam Me Plz” sign were the best energy starters.

Even better, the Snackwards Cam found them up top.

Take a “Snackwards Cam Me Plz” sign to the game, make the Snackwards Cam. pic.twitter.com/lft4NU4fbR

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) December 31, 2024

Resolutions for the New Year…

The New Year’s Eve celebration was fun, but there are still areas to improve for SEC play. Kentucky’s New Year’s resolutions after the Brown game:

FASTER STARTS

At the top of Kentucky’s list of things to improve in the new year is better starts. Even in Kentucky’s two biggest wins of the season, the Wildcats started poorly out of the gate. Against Brown, the talent disparity was enough that Kentucky had no problem pulling away eventually, but Brown was the last team on the schedule that couldn’t make Kentucky pay for a low-energy start. It’s SEC time, and every team in the conference is good enough to build an insurmountable lead if Kentucky plays with its food in the first minutes of a game. It’s time for Kentucky to throw the first punches, not wait to react.

CRASH THE GLASS

Rebounding was a problem against Brown, particularly early on. The Bears had a 21-10 advantage on the glass at halftime, including rebounding more than half of their own misses. Kentucky’s starting center, Amari Williams, shockingly had zero boards at the turn.

Kentucky flipped the script in the second half but still got outrebounded overall. Pope said afterward that the effort wasn’t good enough, but he was pleased with the response when his team grabbed five more than Brown after halftime.

That response needs to continue. Again, you can slack off against Brown, but not in any game moving forward.

SHOOT MORE 3-POINTERS

What was all of that 30 attempts a game talk? Kentucky has crossed the 30-attempt mark only three times this year. Shoot it! Mark Pope wants it. 3-point volume continues to be an emphasis when he speaks. Pope recently said, “(30) is just our goal marker. I wish we could get to 35. It is kind of a standard for us we would like to hold.”

Kentucky took 28 against Brown, so close but not quite there. SHOOOOOOOOOT!

Happy New Year, BBN!

Enjoy Kentucky’s win with a fun and safe New Year’s Eve. The season really takes off in 2025! Go Cats.