Ugonna Onyenso was the "difference maker" vs. Arkansas

Kentucky’s defense has taken a lot of flack this season — and in most cases, rightfully so — but tonight, it was the defense that bailed the offense out. The Cats held Arkansas to 57 points, well below the Razorbacks’ 76.2-point average. Reed Sheppard and Antonio Reeves’ second-half heroics will steal the headlines, but another player deserves credit for helping Kentucky secure a very important win: Ugonna Onyenso.

Onyenso finished with 6 points (3-4 FG), 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, and just 1 turnover in 25 minutes. He was the plus/minus champion of the night at +14. Afterward, John Calipari said Ugo was the difference in the game and, in turn, may move into the starting lineup.

“I’ll say this, what did Ugo do for us today? Ugo was the difference in the game. Now, you say, well, what does that do? Well, he probably moves up. He may start now and Aaron may come off the bench with [Zvonimir Ivisic].”

“I take pride in defense,” Onyenso told Goose Givens. “I really take pride in defense. The fact that people, when they’re driving. they’ve got to think about if they’re gonna make a layup or not, that gives me joy, knowing that defensively, people are scared to come in. I did what I usually do getting blocks. And I’m not surprised. I’m not surprised.”

The biggest impact Onyenso had tonight may have been vs. the pick-and-roll, which Kentucky has been horrible defending this season. Calipari agreed with Tom Leach that tonight was the best pick-and-roll defense the Cats have played this season.

“Yes, because he was in it. He’s long and active and can move his feet. And he’s better offensively than we’re giving him credit for.”

Onyenso had one of the biggest buckets of the game. With 11 minutes to go, Onyenso grabbed an errant pass from Reed Sheppard, and, noticing that he had a clear path to the lane, dunked the ball to put Kentucky up by one, 40-39. He was practically giddy talking about the moment with Goose Givens.

“So I got the rebound and I looked around, like, everybody was on their man and I saw that the lane was open. Like wide open. I’m taking the chance. I’m like, I gotta take this chance. All I had in my mind was, I’m dunking the ball thing. It doesn’t matter where it is. I am dunking this ball and that was what happened. When I saw that open lane, I was like, yeah. I am dunking the ball.”

Dunks are nice, but Ugo said defense is still his bread and butter, and each game, he’s focusing on filling up the stat sheet with rebounds and blocked shots. Tonight, his performance inspired the rest of the team.

“This is Kentucky defense,” he said. “We’ve got to keep proving that defensively, we’re connected. That leads to my teammates trusting that when they go in for a layup, that either me, Aaron, or Z, we’ve got your back. That’s one thing my teammates need to understand. If we get that together, we are going to make a run.”

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Onyenso apologizes for postgame remark

Hilariously, Onyenso started his postgame conversation with Goose with an apology. After Kentucky’s win over Mississippi State, an excited Onyenso was describing a play vs. the Bulldogs, telling Goose that where he’s from, “they f*** you up for doing that.” Even on a big night, he wanted to clear the air from the start.

“First of all, before I start off with this. I wanted to say, the last time I did radio, I said something I wasn’t supposed to say. So, if you heard me, I really apologize for that. It’s not gonna happen again.”

No apology needed, Ugo. Get in here, big guy.

Look at the pure joy on John Calipari’s face when he calls Ugo back. Tells him “I’m so proud of you.” 🥹 #BBN pic.twitter.com/toBoV4clze

— Buddy 🏀😼 (@BigBlueBud) January 28, 2024