The Kentucky Wildcats opened SEC play on Wednesday night with a trip to face the Missouri Tigers.
It was another poor start for the Cats as they quickly fell behind 12–5 in Media’s first timeout.
Two minutes later, the lead was in double digits for the Tigers, who took a 17–7 lead, and it continued to get worse for the Cats.
At the end of the half, Kentucky was on the verge of being down by 20, but they were able to fight back and go into halftime trailing 42-30.
The second half didn’t start any better, as the Tigers opened with a 5-0 streak to take the biggest lead of the game at 47-30.
Kentucky would finally make a run to cut the game down to single digits at 47-56 with 12:31 left.
Unfortunately, that’s as close as it could get as the Tigers would extend the lead and win 89-75.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the game.
Look good, feel good? Kentucky coaches wearing suits tonight at Mizzou Arena
—Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 28, 2022
Just like Wallace planned all along!
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 29, 2022
If only Oscar got 1/10 of the calls that Timme gets.
—TJ Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) December 29, 2022
There’s No Reason Oscar Can’t Be Dominant
— Lori Mills (@lori_mills) December 29, 2022
Oscar Tshiebwe becomes the fifth player in Kentucky basketball history with 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, joining Dan Issel, Cliff Hagan, Johnny Cox and Frank Ramsey.
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) December 29, 2022
Missouri took 6 seconds to lay up after Wallace 3. This can’t happen
— Views by Vaughts (@vaughtsviews) December 29, 2022
Our defense after a made basket has been AWESOME all year
— The Kentucky ˥ogo (@TheKentuckyLogo) December 29, 2022
Oscar Tshiebwe, with three first-half turnovers, was seething with every touch (and clearly uncomfortable).
—Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 29, 2022
Besides Cason Wallace, Kentucky’s best offense is Oscar Tshiebwe at the offensive glass. In fact, outside of Wallace, it’s the only offense at the moment. @KentuckyRivals
—David Sisk (@CoachDavidSisk) December 29, 2022
Kentucky on track to score 52 points tonight. This offense has been anemic.
—Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 29, 2022
I don’t think this is how lineups are being played, honestly it’s all about the execution. Many people who play significant minutes simply cannot be on the ground.
—Ethan DeWitt (@EthanDeWitt1) December 29, 2022
I wish we had 4 Casons and Oscar
— The Kentucky ˥ogo (@TheKentuckyLogo) December 29, 2022
For current national player of the year, Oscar Tshiebwe gets zero calls.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) December 29, 2022
I like that we are playing against a team that likes to run, but we are not racing
—Jortney (@Wildcatty11) December 29, 2022
Training, experience, shooting, talent, any kind of aggression, everything stinks. This team is garbage. 21 points in 16 minutes and you have 1 marksman on the ground and Ware/Oscar/Wheeler. I hate that.
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) December 29, 2022
In terms of style, Missouri is playing the way I would like this Kentucky team to play…impose your style on the other team
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 29, 2022
Sahvir Wheeler, Chris Livingston, Antonio Reeves, Lance Ware and CJ Fredrick combined 3-17 to open the game
Cason Wallace and Oscar Tshiebwe are the only two players with multiple brands.
—Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 29, 2022
Missouri run and gun and we’re playing big three…
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) December 29, 2022
It’s shocking to see this team struggle when the roster is essentially the same as last year. Let’s not forget… 2021-2022 UK beat UNC by 29, Kansas by 18 and Tennessee by 28 among other big wins in a year of 26-8, 14-4. How they fight so hard is beyond me.
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) December 29, 2022
Missouri +12 on three-point differential in the first half and lead 10-0 on transition points. There’s your ball game. @KentuckyRivals
—David Sisk (@CoachDavidSisk) December 29, 2022
Mizzou is playing well and hitting shots and the crowd is enjoying it BUT…
…Kentucky seems lost now. The disorganization and problems in attack are frustrating, but even worse is the lack of fight and energy. Really disheartening ahead of what will be a brutal SEC schedule.
—Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) December 29, 2022
Mizzou’s fans are still comparatively lukewarm. If it was Auburn, the roof would be gone by now. It’s going to get ugly down the road in the SEC.
— John Huang (@KYHuangs) December 29, 2022
Come Kentucky, let’s run
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) December 29, 2022
Adou Thiero is struggling, as is Lance Ware. It’s not pretty, but it’s better than anything else we’ve seen today.
—Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 29, 2022
That three was as good as sunk the second Lance turned it over. Disgusting.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) December 29, 2022
Missouri is laughing, they are having fun.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) December 29, 2022
I wish Cason had more help around him. He might be in the Nerlens/Isaiah Jackson “right place, wrong time” category.
—TJ Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) December 29, 2022
We were beaten, pressured, and coached by a mid-level SEC team and a freshman coach. This is simply a fact. And I’m not sure how anyone could dispute it
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 29, 2022
I just don’t understand what’s wrong with our cats this year #bbn
— Maria Montgomery (@Maria_Montgomry) December 29, 2022
I can’t even imagine the toxicity if this continues into February.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) December 29, 2022
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