Kentucky basketball is currently facing some challenges, but the team showed their determination on Tuesday night by pulling off a significant win against Tennessee, despite missing two of their star players. The Wildcats continue to impress and strengthen their resume.
Texas Struggles
The SEC has been very tough on the Texas Longhorns. They are 4-8 in the league, have lost three straight games to Arkansas and Vanderbilt, which they led by double digits but lost in Nashville, and lost at home this past week against Alabama. In other words, it’s not a great time to be a Texas fan.
Three-point shooting has also taken a downward spiral in SEC play. In SEC games, Texas is shooting 30.2% from beyond the arc, and right now, that’s not a great success if you’re hoping to make the NCAA tournament.
For Texas to get where they need to be, they need others to step up besides Tre Johnson, the star freshman. They’re also dealing with some injury issues, starting with Arthur Kaluma. There are many questions that need to be answered if Texas wants to make a run down the stretch and have any hope of earning a tournament bid.
Cats Keep Fighting Despite Injuries
Lamont Butler has been fighting injuries all season long and managed to tough out a few games, only to leave during the Tennessee game on Tuesday night. It’s tough luck for a team that has one of the best resumes in the sport. They just need to figure things out and focus on getting healthy for March.
On the other side of things, Jaxson Robinson is dealing with a wrist injury that kept him out of the Tennessee game and could keep him sidelined for even more games. The mentality has to be “next man up,” and hopefully, things can get on track before the SEC tournament.
Get healthy.
Kentucky Kids Are Shining Bright
Kentucky has had games this year where things weren’t going their way, and in steps Travis Perry and Trent Noah. These two Kentucky boys love their state and take pride in putting on the jersey, and they’ve made significant contributions for the Cats.
Both have made big strides in their first season with Kentucky and will continue to see action until the Cats can get healthy and sort out the injury situation. As a fan, it’s exciting to watch them, not only as a spectator but also as a Kentuckian.
End Of My Kentucky Rant
As the stretch run begins, Kentucky finds themselves 17-7 overall and 6-5 in SEC play. This week, they have two winnable games coming up against Texas and Vanderbilt. If they can keep their head above water, there’s a chance to end the season on a high note, and then they can focus on getting back to full strength to start March.
As for the injuries, Kentucky has had others step up in the absence of Robinson and Butler, including Koby Brea, Trent Noah, and even Travis Perry, who has hit big shots to help the Cats win games. Others will need to step into that role this weekend if both of them are unable to play.
A sign of a good team is grit, toughness, and being hard-nosed, and Kentucky has showcased that at times this year, even in wins over Tennessee while both Butler and Robinson were sitting out. Butler did play in the home game against Tennessee, but Kentucky still found a way to win in their absence.
It’s all about that next-man-up mentality, and now it’s time to find another game filled with grit and determination, starting this weekend in Austin against Texas.
For more Kentucky basketball coverage, click here. Kentucky Triumph Over Tennessee In Season Sweep – Stadium Rant
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