Kentucky Wildcats fans got a jolt Tuesday night. Brandon Garrison, once a key part of Mark Pope’s rotation, didn’t just have a rough game against NC Central—he got benched and didn’t return for the rest of the contest.
It all started eight minutes into the first half. Garrison turned the ball over and failed to sprint back on defense, leading to an NC Central dunk that cut Kentucky’s lead to eight. Pope called an immediate timeout, marched directly to Garrison on the court, and delivered a fiery lecture. The cameras captured every second. After that, Garrison was done for the night, finishing with just five points and two assists in seven minutes.
“It’s not about punishment,” Pope said afterward. “We just have a lot of growing that we have to do. We have competitive guys, but we don’t really know what it means to compete yet. That will come.”
But here’s the part everyone is talking about: Garrison didn’t sulk. He didn’t retreat. Instead, he returned to the bench with his head up, ready to support his teammates. He cheered for his teammates, offered encouragement during timeouts, and stayed locked in for the remainder of the blowout win. Kentucky went on an 18-2 run immediately after his benching, and Garrison was there to witness it—and help keep his teammates focused.
The situation highlights the pressure cooker environment Pope has created at Kentucky. While discipline is non-negotiable, the coach is also asking his players to grow in real time, to develop accountability, and to show resilience when mistakes happen.
Garrison’s response is just the beginning of that story. With Jayden Quaintance nearing his debut and competition for minutes heating up, Garrison will have to prove he belongs back in the rotation. But for now, fans are noticing the maturity he displayed after one of the toughest nights of his college career.
“It’s about learning,” Pope said. “We’re learning fast. We’ve got to get guys living and dying for this team. That competitive spirit—it’s there. We just have to find a way to do it.”
Kentucky’s next test comes Saturday at Rupp Arena against Indiana. If Garrison wants to reclaim his spot, the time to act is now. And based on his post-benching behavior, it seems he just might.
