The second-half Cats strike again!
It was a very big week for the Kentucky Wildcats as they mounted not one but two double-digit comeback victories on the road over the LSU Tigers and the #24 Tennessee Volunteers, which might’ve saved the Cats’ season.
Despite coming back from back-to-back early big deficits, I think BBN would love to see the Cats start off the game the same way they continue to finish.
Denzel Aberdeen, Malachi Moreno, Otega Oweh, and different contributors off the bench game by game have played a huge role in the Wildcats comeback victories, but getting down big early should not be the norm going forward. The Wildcats are going to have to bring that same fight in the first 20 minutes as they do in the last 20 minutes, because coming back from huge deficits is not a good recipe to have if Kentucky plans on having tons of success going forward
Kentucky’s back in action Wednesday night at 7:00 as they welcome the visiting Texas Longhorns.
Now, here are six risers from a potentially season-saving week for the Kentucky Wildcats!
Collin Chandler
The sophomore guard made two game-winning plays that paid huge dividends in the Wildcats’ comeback victories this past week. Chandler was not only key in that full-court pass to Malachi Moreno that led the Wildcats to a last-second victory over LSU, but he also came up with a huge steal that led to an Otega Oweh basket in the final 30 seconds to give the Cats their first lead and eventual victory in their outing against Tennessee. He finished with 12 points in Saturday’s game against the Vols and continued to come through in crucial situations where his team needed him the most as he shot 4/6 from distance.
Jasper Johnson
Freshman guard and Kentucky native arguably had his best game in a Wildcat uniform, considering the circumstances and all. Johnson was a big spark off the bench as he went for 12 points, hitting five of his six shots from the field, and also dished out four assists in his outing against Tennessee. If Kentucky can get this version of Jasper Johnson consistently going forward, then the Wildcats will see a lot of positive results in the near future.
Mo Dioubate
In what has been a very slow start for him in conference play, Mo Dioubate came through for the Wildcats as he finished with 10 points and six rebounds, with one of them being the most important one down the stretch on a free-throw box-out. Without Dioubate’s play off the bench this past Saturday, it’s more than likely that the Wildcats don’t pull off a second straight comeback.
Malachi Moreno
Freshman center and Kentucky native might’ve saved Kentucky’s entire season after hitting that game-winner over the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge this past Wednesday. Moreno ended the outing with 10 points and eight rebounds in that outing. Although he only ended with 3 points in Saturday’s outing against the Vols, Moreno was a menace on the defensive end for the Wildcats as he ended the afternoon with four blocks and also stayed on the glass the entire game as he grabbed eight boards. With Jayden Quaintance still out with his knee injury, Moreno will have to continue this same type of play going forward.
Otega Oweh
Oweh had a huge night this past Wednesday as he finished with 21 points and shot 3/6 from distance, which propelled the Cats over the Tigers. Despite having his worst game in conference play in Knoxville this past Saturday, Otega Oweh came through in the final minutes as he broke away with a steal that cut the Tennessee lead to 4 and gave the Wildcats their first lead off of a Collin Chandler steal with 30 seconds to go that completed another double-digit comeback victory for Kentucky.
Denzel Aberdeen
Florida transfer and senior guard Denzel Aberdeen was the very main key in the Wildcats double-digit comeback victories over LSU and Tennessee this past week. After not scoring in the first half against LSU, Aberdeen had a huge second half and finished with 17 points on 5/8 shooting that included a couple of triples. Aberdeen yet again had another huge performance as he led the Cats past the Vols with 22 points (18 in the second) on 7/11 shooting (3/6 from 3) that included make after make the entire second half. With starting point guard Jaland Lowe out for the rest of the season, the big blue faithful and the team would love to see Aberdeen continue with his spectacular play, and if he does keep this up, Kentucky will stack up wins.
Category: General Sports
