Kentucky basketball has now had three chances to notch a résumé-building win against ranked opponents this season — and for the third time, the Wildcats walked away empty-handed.
Tuesday’s 67–64 loss to No. 17 North Carolina wasn’t just another early-season setback. It felt like something deeper. Something more alarming. Something that forced the question many around Lexington have tried to avoid:
Is it officially time to panic?
Three Opportunities. Three Failures. One Growing Problem.
A loss at No. 6 Louisville? Understandable — first true road game for a roster built largely from the transfer portal.
A loss to No. 8 Michigan State? Also excusable — the Spartans’ physicality exposes most teams in November.
But losing at home to a UNC team that hadn’t won in Rupp Arena in 20 years? In a game Kentucky led and should have closed out? That’s no longer a fluke. That’s a red flag.
A Freshman Ends UK’s Night
The Wildcats were ultimately undone by a reserve freshman — not projected NBA talent Caleb Wilson, but Derek Dixon. His step-back three with 53 seconds left and a driving layup with 16 seconds remaining sealed the Tar Heels’ win and sent UK fans into a stunned silence.
Kentucky’s late-game collapse was fueled by:
13 straight missed shots during a 10-minute field-goal drought
A 2-for-16 finish from the field
1-for-13 from three, the worst long-range performance under Mark Pope
The only made three-pointer? Center Brandon Garrison — his first and only of the season.
“It’s uncommon for us to be 1-for-13 from 3. That’s not really who we are,” Pope said.
Ball Movement Vanishes
Kentucky managed just eight assists on 23 made baskets. Transition scoring off turnovers helped early, but once the game slowed, UK’s offense completely unraveled.
“We still have a steep learning curve,” Pope said. “We’re trying to figure out how to make plays for our teammates.”
A Rebounding Disaster
UNC dominated the glass:
41–30 overall
20 offensive rebounds
22 second-chance points
The Wildcats missed forward Mouhamed Dioubate, out with an ankle injury, but Pope stressed that the rebounding issues were systemic — poor rotations, bad angles, and a lack of physicality.
And Now, the Schedule Gets Even Tougher
Kentucky doesn’t get a breather. Up next:
No. 11 Gonzaga (Nashville)
No. 19 Indiana (Rupp Arena)
No. 22 St. John’s (Atlanta)
Those matchups hit just as the NCAA released its opening NET rankings. Kentucky sits 15th — but all five wins have come against Quad 4 teams. The Cats are 0–3 against Quad 1, and that’s bubble territory.
Players Staying Calm — But For How Long?
Despite the outside noise, players insist there’s no internal panic. Otega Oweh, who led the team with 16 points, believes Kentucky is close to turning a corner.
“We all believe in each other,” Oweh said. “We all believe in the staff. That’s why we know it’s going to turn.”
But belief isn’t enough. Kentucky needs results — and soon.
The Big Picture
Through three ranked matchups, Kentucky has shown a troubling pattern:
Poor late-game execution
No half-court identity
Vanishing perimeter shooting
Defensive breakdowns
Rebounding failures
This isn’t just a tough start.
This is a warning.
Unless the Wildcats fix these problems fast, Kentucky could find itself battling for NCAA Tournament positioning far earlier — and far more desperately — than anyone expected.
