Kentucky Prepares for Road Test Against Georgia After Thrilling Win Over Florida
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fresh off an electrifying victory over No. 6 Florida, the No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats (12-2, 1-0 SEC) are ready to hit the road for their first Southeastern Conference road game of the season. On Tuesday, they face the Georgia Bulldogs (12-2, 0-1) in Athens, aiming to secure their first win at Stegeman Coliseum since January 2020.
Kentucky Riding High After SEC Opener
The Wildcats started conference play in spectacular fashion, defeating Florida 106-100 at Rupp Arena in a game that showcased their offensive firepower. Kentucky, now averaging 90.2 points per game (second nationally behind Alabama’s 91.1), shot an impressive 57.8% from the field and 48.3% (14-for-29) from beyond the arc.
Koby Brea shined with 23 points, including seven three-pointers. The performance further solidified the Wildcats’ reputation as a top-tier team under first-year head coach Mark Pope, who has seamlessly taken the reins after John Calipari’s tenure.
“If you guys didn’t have fun [Saturday], then you should quit now and find a new job,” Pope told reporters after the Florida game. “That was just an elite-level game. Physically, it was a bloodbath. … How fun is this league going to be?”
A New-Look Kentucky Team Thrives
Despite an entirely new roster, Kentucky has already notched three wins against top-seven opponents, including victories over Duke and Gonzaga. The Wildcats’ resilience and fearlessness in big moments have impressed Coach Pope.
“The players love the opportunity to compete,” Pope said. “I don’t think they’re scared. I don’t think they spend a ton of time stressing or fretting about the outcome. They’re doing a terrific job of staying in the moment and competing for every possession.”
Leading the team is Otega Oweh with 15.9 points per game, followed by Lamont Butler (13.8) and Brea (12.7). Brea, who led the nation in three-point shooting last season, is continuing his dominance, topping Division I with a 52.3% mark from beyond the arc.
Georgia Looks to Rebound
The Bulldogs are coming off a tough 63-51 loss to No. 24 Ole Miss, snapping a seven-game winning streak. Despite their struggles, including shooting just 29.3% from the field and 2-for-18 from three-point range, head coach Mike White remains optimistic.
“2-for-18 from three is not who we are. We’ll shoot it better than that,” White said.
Freshman standout Asa Newell led Georgia with 13 points and 13 rebounds against Ole Miss. He currently averages 15.4 points per game, supported by De’Shayne Montgomery (13.5 points in just four games) and Dakota Leffew (12.3).
White is eager to rally his team as they return home to face Kentucky.
“We expect a big crowd, and our guys will be jacked up to play another really good team,” White said. “How unique is it that we’ll be saying that for 18 straight games? It’s an incredible gauntlet ahead of us, but we’re going to be competitive.”
A Clash of Styles
As Kentucky looks to continue its dominant offensive performance and Georgia aims to find its rhythm again, Tuesday’s matchup promises to be a high-stakes battle in the SEC. Will Kentucky keep its momentum rolling, or will Georgia defend its home turf and bounce back? Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting showdown.
