Throwback Thursday: Wenyen Gabriel Shoots Alabama Out of the SEC Tournament

Kentucky and Alabama have played 155 times on the hardwood. The Wildcats have 115 wins over the Crimson Tide, and in recent years, many have knocked Alabama out of the SEC Tournament. In 2018, Wenyen Gabriel was the surprise poacher that took down the Avery Johnson’s Elephants.

Playing in St. Louis’ Scottrade Center, the Wildcats’ drew future first round pick Collin Sexton in the semifinals. The Alabama point guard had 21 points, but it was a small forward from the UK bench that stole the show.

Entering the game, Gabriel previously only reached double figures five times in the 2017-18 season. Something was in the air and the sophomore caught fire. Wenyen buried his first seven three-pointers to tie his career-high with 23 points.

“I don’t know if I could get much hotter,” Wenyen told KSR after the game. “I couldn’t miss.”

The seven makes from downtown set a new Kentucky SEC Tournament record, a mark previously held by Travis Ford, who had six in two 1993 tournament games, and Tayshaun Price, who hit six against Ole Miss in 2001. He only needed one more to tie the record set by Ole Miss’ Stefan Moody in 2016.

“If I knew that, I might have shot one more,” Wenyen quipped. “I was just trying to break my own record of making three in a row.”

Wenyen’s hot night led to an 86-63 victory over Alabama. It was the third straight season the Crimson Tide were eliminated by Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. Avery Johnson was fired shortly after Alabama was knocked out by the Wildcats again in 2019.

Kentucky hosts Alabama Saturday at 1 pm ET. The game at Rupp Arena will be broadcast on CBS.

Go Cats. Beat Bama.