Dick Vitale has seen just about everything college basketball has to offer. So when the Hall of Fame broadcaster starts buzzing about Kentucky, it’s usually a sign that something real is brewing in Lexington.
And make no mistake — the Wildcats just made noise.
Kentucky delivered one of the most impressive weeks in the sport, pulling off back-to-back road comebacks after trailing by 18 and 17 points. It wasn’t flawless, and there are still areas to clean up, but wins like these matter — especially in January.
Now back home with momentum on its side, Kentucky suddenly feels like a team trending in the right direction. The national media has noticed — and so has Vitale.
Kentucky is fixing its résumé at exactly the right moment
Before the trip to Baton Rouge, Kentucky’s résumé was flashing warning signs. The Wildcats sat at 1–5 in Quad 1 games, a troubling mark for a program with Final Four expectations. March success requires beating elite teams, and Kentucky simply hadn’t done enough of it.
Then came LSU — a game that still feels almost impossible.
Down late and facing another season-altering loss, Collin Chandler launched a perfect full-court pass that found Malachi Moreno in stride. Moreno caught it, turned, and buried a buzzer-beater that instantly changed the tone of Kentucky’s season.
There was no time to savor it.
Just three days later, the Wildcats walked into Knoxville for a noon tip against Tennessee — and for the first 15 minutes, the Vols were in control. They forced turnovers, dominated the glass, and dictated the tempo. Kentucky didn’t even grab its first lead until under a minute remained.
But when it mattered most, the Wildcats answered.
A clutch runner from Denzel Aberdeen, followed by a frantic final sequence and a postgame scuffle, sealed one of Kentucky’s most meaningful wins of the season.
Dick Vitale sees what’s coming
Those two victories pushed Kentucky to 3–5 in Quad 1 games and 12–6 overall, lifting the Wildcats off the NCAA Tournament bubble — at least for now. The conversation has shifted from survival to seeding, and Kentucky finally looks like a team discovering its identity.
Dick Vitale noticed.
The legendary broadcaster took to X and declared Kentucky had the best week of any team in college basketball, praise that carries serious weight coming from one of the sport’s most recognizable voices.
These wins won’t instantly thrust Kentucky back into the Top 15, but they’ve clearly altered the trajectory of the season. The toughness, confidence, and late-game execution are starting to surface — and if the Wildcats keep building, this is a team no one will want to see in March.
The résumé is back on track.
Now the only question is how high Kentucky can climb.
