Kentucky basketball improved to 2-0 on the season with a win over a solid James Madison team Friday night at Rupp Arena. It wasn’t the prettiest performance from the Wildcats, but they showed plenty of grit to pull away late and pick up an 89-80 win.
James Madison largely set the tone in the first half, forcing Kentucky to play its game. The teams played out a seesaw first 20 minutes and entered the break tied at 39 points apiece.
The beginning of the second half saw much of the same flow, with several lead changes in the opening stages. The tide shifted midway through when Kentucky started to find its rhythm, as Justin McBride, Alex Wilkins, and Mason Williams all settled into a groove. Combined with the Dukes enduring a three-and-a-half-minute scoreless spell in the heart of the half, Kentucky was able to pull away and never look back.
Here are the biggest talking points from the gutsy Wildcat win.
Kentucky Basketball: Winning Without Milan Momcilovic
After dropping 24 points and going six-of-nine from three-point range in the season opener against Manhattan, Kentucky’s resident superstar, Milan Momcilovic, was largely absent against James Madison. He had just seven points, going two-of-nine from the floor and a measly one-of-eight from beyond the arc.
Clearly, much of Kentucky’s success this year will be tied to his performance. That’s why it is encouraging to see the team rally and other players step up when its star couldn’t quite find his shot.
Kentucky Basketball: Justin McBride Could Be An X-Factor This Year
The turning point of the game came when Justin McBride found his footing in the second half. After drilling a triple to give the Cats the lead, he made a couple of huge defensive plays and fired up both the home crowd and the Kentucky bench. He finished with a game-high eight rebounds, adding 13 points while going four-of-six from the floor and three-of-four from deep.
After a quiet cameo in the Manhattan game a couple of days ago, McBride firmly introduced himself with a quality performance against his former team.
Kentucky Basketball: Alex Wilkins May Be Kentucky’s Sparkplug
The night got off to a rough start for Wilkins, as his first-half action was limited after picking up two fouls in the first five minutes. His absence coincided with Kentucky’s downturn on both sides of the ball, while his re-emergence helped spark the turnaround in the second half.
He drilled two triples in the second half to help put the game out of reach during James Madison’s scoring drought, finishing with 16 points. Thirteen of them came in the second half.
He also continued to showcase his eagerness to drive to the basket and use his speed, dropping an ankle-breaker that is sure to make the rounds on social media. His underrated defensive prowess also shone through, as his presence coincided with the Wildcats’ defense tightening up late. He is going to be a big player this year.
Kentucky Basketball: Zoom Diallo Was The Best Player On The Floor
After an underwhelming and frankly concerning preseason performance, Zoom Diallo has become quite the popular figure in Lexington. Chants of “Zoooooommmm” rang out in Rupp Arena against Manhattan, and it was much the same against James Madison.
The Washington transfer had a team-high 16 points despite being limited to 22 minutes of action. He took a blow to the face early in the second half that kept him out for the remainder of the game. Despite that, his willingness to get to the rim and clever finishes around the basket helped Kentucky keep pace when things weren’t going well. He was the most influential player on the floor while he was playing.
Kentucky Basketball: Defensive Inconsistency
Kentucky’s offense is always going to be a talking point, as its fast, fluid brand of basketball is a staple of any successful Mark Pope squad. However, the Wildcats’ defensive play will arguably be even more important to their success this season. Against James Madison, it left plenty to be desired.
The Cats seemed scattered against a James Madison team that plays a similar brand of basketball, struggling to adjust to the fast-paced movement. They allowed the Dukes to attempt over 40 threes in the game, 15 of which found the mark. Several of their misses came on open shots and good looks, and a better team could easily have punished Kentucky for leaving those openings.
The Wildcats may have won by nine points, but this game could have been a lot closer if James Madison had made a couple more triples. Mark Pope will need to ensure his players shore up their defense before the Kansas matchup.
End Of My Kentucky Basketball Rant
It wasn’t the prettiest performance from Kentucky, but the Wildcats got the job done. Really, that’s all that matters. It’s early in the season, and every team is still looking to settle into its groove and find its identity as a unit. Kentucky is no exception.
The Wildcats now look forward to a pivotal matchup against Kansas in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, their first marquee game of the season. The Jayhawks are currently ranked 17th in the country and are led by top 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes, who chose Kansas over Kentucky after a highly publicized recruitment battle. It’s going to be a huge test for Mark Pope’s men and one that Big Blue Nation is eager to see.
