Ben Roberts

‘We’ve got to be the tough guys.’ Cats explain what it will take to upset Gators Kentucky basketball guts out a SEC Tournament win over Missouri and Wildcats not have a “free shot” at top-seeded Florida.

My column: "We've got to be the tough guys." Cats explain what it will take to upset the Gators www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-c...

What’s Jaland Lowe been up to? Catching up with Kentucky’s injured point guard Jaland Lowe has been out injured for UK basketball since January. At the SEC Tournament, Lowe spoke about what his first Kentucky season has been like.

Jaland Lowe's first Kentucky basketball season hasn't gone to script.

There were injuries, then surgery and only 9 games played.

For the first time in months, Lowe talks about what he's been up to, including comments regarding his future at UK: ⬇️
www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Kentucky was headed for another ugly loss. Here’s how the Cats avoided disaster From up 16 in the second half to down one in the final minutes, it was another roller coaster for Mark Pope’s team. This time, UK endured.

Kentucky blew a 16-point lead vs. Missouri today.

What if that had happened 2 months ago? "I think we probably would have folded."

But this is now, and the Wildcats endured. And maybe all of that angst along the way has amounted to something good for this UK team: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘The fans don’t see BG every day’: Kentucky players celebrate Garrison’s big game Brandon Garrison had his best game of the season in Kentucky’s win over LSU in the SEC Tournament opener. His teammates loved it.

Brandon Garrison delivered for Kentucky today in Nashville.

After the game, his teammates made it clear that they've seen the criticism that comes Garrison's way. And they stuck up for a player that they've come to love.

"The fans don’t see BG every day."

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Kentucky is getting help for portal season. Mark Pope explains vision for new job UK has a job posting for a men’s basketball “player development” position. Mark Pope goes into detail about what he’s looking for.

From yesterday: I asked Mark Pope to explain his vision for a new UK basketball posting that features a lot of GM-like duties in the job description.

Here's what Pope is thinking, and he wants this spot filled before the transfer portal opens: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Mark Pope says fatigue is a problem for UK basketball. What can be done to help? Mark Pope has often mentioned that fatigue is an issue for his shorthanded Kentucky basketball team.

For the past seven weeks, Kentucky basketball has been down to just 9 healthy players.

And for the past couple of weeks, talk of player fatigue has dominated the discourse.

How has fatigue actually impacted Mark Pope's team, and what can be done to help?
www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Braydon Hawthorne will return to Kentucky next season. He’s already learned a lot In a one-on-one interview with the Herald-Leader, freshman Braydon Hawthorne talks about how much he’s grown during his redshirt year at UK.

Braydon Hawthorne will be back at Kentucky next season.

A 1-on-1 interview with the UK freshman, who talks about what he's learned during this redshirt year and why sitting out was the right move for both his future and the impact he'll be able to have next season: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

In a game it had to win, this Kentucky basketball team showed more of the same Just about everything that has haunted Mark Pope’s Wildcats occurred over the final 40 minutes of basketball in Rupp Arena this season.

A win over Florida would have been huge for this Kentucky basketball team, for a number of reasons.

Instead, the same old things that have been haunting the Cats all season long were packed into one losing performance.

Story from yesterday in Rupp: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

UK basketball has been good in transition this season. That changed this week Texas A&M and Florida combined to score 30 more fast break points than Kentucky in wins over the Wildcats this week.

During what's been an inconsistent UK basketball season, one thing has largely been true:

Kentucky outperforms teams in transition.

That's no longer happening: ⬇️
www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Here’s the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule A full look at the SEC Tournament bracket, with Kentucky set to face LSU in the first round Wednesday.

The SEC Tournament schedule is set.

Kentucky will play in Game 1. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘Forever grateful’: Kentucky basketball seniors reflect before final game in Rupp Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen will play their final home game as Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday. They see good things in this team’s future.

"I just want to end it on a high note."

Today will mark the final game in Rupp Arena for Otega Oweh, Denzel Aberdeen, Walker Horn and Zach Tow.

Oweh and Aberdeen reflect on their time as Kentucky basketball players, and they're hoping the best is yet to come. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Here’s what the Florida game will mean for Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament hopes This one could have a big impact on the Wildcats’ résumé with Selection Sunday fast approaching. Here’s the latest look at bracketology.

A look at Kentucky's bracketology outlook going into today's game against Florida, which will bring a rare late-season opportunity to actually make some real movement on the seed list.

What today's game means for Selection Sunday: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Is Kam Williams close to a return? Injured Wildcat hits a milestone in recovery Kam Williams has been out since Jan. 21 with a broken foot. Mark Pope provided another positive update on his status Thursday.

"I love the fact that he’s dying to play right now. He’s dying to play."

The season is nearing its end, but Kam Williams might be closer to a return to the court than previously thought.

Here's the latest on the injured Kentucky basketball player: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

What a win over Texas A&M could do for Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament outlook Last week was huge for the Wildcats’ bracketology outlook. Here’s what a win at Texas A&M (and some other scenarios) would mean for UK.

Kentucky basketball bracketology update ...

A closer look at what the Wildcats' win over Vanderbilt did for their NCAA Tournament outlook, as well as what a victory over Texas A&M tonight could mean on Selection Sunday.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘Only as strong as our pack.’ Here’s a key to a Kentucky basketball run in March Kentucky’s starting guards stole the show against Vanderbilt, but some other important contributions went overlooked.

The "three-headed GOAT" will be crucial to Kentucky's postseason success, but those players can't do it alone.

"We’re only as strong as our pack." And that will be another major key to any considerable tournament success that these Wildcats enjoy in March.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘Step on their necks’: Why Vandy win might have been Kentucky’s best this season On the eve of March, the Kentucky Wildcats turned in one of their most impressive performances of the season.

"We’re trying to make some noise and let people know that we’re here to play, and we’re not going away."

Many have already written off this Kentucky team. Today, the Wildcats showed the college basketball world that they might still have a run in them.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

UK basketball’s ‘3-Headed GOAT’ gives Cats chance to be a March Madness surprise They say veteran guards win in March. As No. 25 Vanderbilt found out Saturday, Kentucky’s experienced backcourt is playing at a high level.

My column: UK basketball’s “3-Headed GOAT” at least gives the Cats a chance to be a March Madness surprise www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-c...

‘A 3-point mistake’: Collin Chandler’s shooting elevates UK basketball Collin Chandler is on a 3-point shooting hot streak. It’s changed things for Kentucky basketball.

Collin Chandler’s 3-point shooting has leveled up.

And it’s changed things for this Kentucky basketball team.

More on Chandler’s hot streak from beyond the arc, and what it means for the Wildcats: ⬇️
www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘Step on their necks’: Why Vandy win might have been Kentucky’s best this season On the eve of March, the Kentucky Wildcats turned in one of their most impressive performances of the season.

"We’re trying to make some noise and let people know that we’re here to play, and we’re not going away."

Many have already written off this Kentucky team. Today, the Wildcats showed the college basketball world that they might still have a run in them.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘We need him.’ This Kentucky Wildcat came up clutch in the win at South Carolina With Otega Oweh struggling, another Kentucky guard stepped up and helped save the day in Columbia on Tuesday night.

South Carolina went all out trying to limit Otega Oweh last night, and it worked.

That meant another Kentucky Wildcat would have to step up, and he did. "He rose up and got the job done."

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Kentucky did something at South Carolina that it cannot afford to do again Mark Pope’s team got the win it needed Tuesday night. But one thing the Wildcats did can’t be repeated for the rest of this season.

Kentucky escaped South Carolina with a victory last night.

The Wildcats got the win they needed, but they can't do what they did here in Columbia again and expect to get away with it.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Mark Pope fined and issued a ‘public reprimand’ by the SEC for criticizing refs The Kentucky coach was reprimanded by the league for his comments after the loss at Auburn on Saturday.

Mark Pope has been fined $25,000 and issued a public reprimand by the SEC for his comments after the Auburn game.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Here’s how badly that loss to Georgia affected Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament hopes A fresh wave of bracketology projections, a peek at the selection process, and a new metric to know while tracking Kentucky’s outlook.

How much did the loss to Georgia hurt Kentucky's NCAA Tournament chances?

A closer look at just how safe the Cats are right now, with information on an important metric to know about as Selection Sunday approaches: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘Santoro!’ Here’s what happens when Mark Pope doesn’t like a referee’s call Kentucky basketball video coordinator Matt Santoro talks to the Herald-Leader about how UK’s challenge process works.

What happens when Mark Pope disagrees with a ref's call?

"Santoro!"

UK's resident video guy hears the Kentucky coach yell his name, and he springs into action. A behind-the-scenes look at how the Wildcats are dealing with the NCAA's new challenge system: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Kentucky’s Denzel Aberdeen shouldn’t expect any valentines at Florida on Saturday Denzel Aberdeen was expected to return to Florida. Instead, he’s a Kentucky Wildcat. His ex-teammates aren’t anticipating a warm reception.

"We’re not necessarily happy to see him in Kentucky blue, but we’re going to be ready to compete against him, I can promise you that."

Tomorrow, Denzel Aberdeen returns home to Florida. He shouldn't expect a warm welcome.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

How No. 25 Kentucky matches up vs. No. 14 Florida — with a game prediction How Mark Pope’s Wildcats and Todd Golden’s Gators match up at each position for Saturday’s SEC men’s college basketball game in Gainesville.

How No. 25 Kentucky and No. 14 Florida match up at each position - with my game prediction www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-c...

How worried should UK fans be about Mark Pope’s recruiting? The answer to that question comes down to what you, as a Kentucky fan, most value.

My column: How worried should Kentucky fans be about Mark Pope’s recruiting? www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-c...

After a slow start, this former UK recruit is playing like a star for Florida At one time, Boogie Fland was committed to play basketball at Kentucky. Now, he’s helping lead the way for Florida.

Just a few short years ago, point guard Boogie Fland was a Kentucky basketball commit for coach John Calipari.

Things have changed since then.

Now at Florida, Fland is set to play against Kentucky for the first time on Saturday: ⬇️
www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

An update on Jayden Quaintance’s potential for a return as NBA stock takes a hit Mark Pope offered the latest update on Jayden Quaintance before Kentucky’s game against Florida. Meanwhile, his NBA draft stock is falling.

The latest update on Jayden Quaintance, whose NBA draft stock is starting to take a hit as he approaches his 10th consecutive missed game for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Story: www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

I get both sides of it. And I was skeptical from the start. But it is difficult to just turn down a projected lottery pick, even under the circumstances, especially when they already had some other bigs on the roster that they liked -- making JQ more of a bonus than someone they were "relying" on.