Kentucky guard Collin Chandler and Mo Dioubate reflected on just how costly turnovers were in Tuesday night’s 86-78 loss to Georgia at Rupp Arena.
I was on a Louisville sports radio show last week when the host asked what it would take for this season to leave Big Blue Nation at least satisfied with Mark Pope’s second year as Kentucky’s head coach. After UK (17-9, 8-5 SEC) absorbed a demoralizing home loss to a Georgia team that had stumbled through five losses in six games, that question felt more urgent than ever.
Mike White’s Bulldogs (18-8, 6-7 SEC) came into Rupp Arena desperate, and Kentucky failed to match that intensity. Georgia, a 31.7% 3-point shooting team on the season, lit up the Wildcats for 45.2% from deep (14 of 31) against a weak defensive effort.
“We were not good defensively tonight,” Pope admitted. “In the second half, they shot 57% from three. That’s just a poor commentary on our defensive effort.
Kentucky also struggled with turnovers, giving Georgia 13 points off mistakes while committing only seven themselves. Coupled with poor free-throw shooting (12 of 20), these mistakes cost UK the game, even as Otega Oweh tied his career-high with 28 points and Collin Chandler added 18 on 6-of-10 shooting from three.
Now, Kentucky faces an uphill climb to make this season something the fan base can accept. The 2025-26 campaign began with high expectations but crashed amid early blowout losses before showing some promise in SEC play. Tuesday’s setback against Georgia erased much of that progress.
Here’s what the Wildcats need to do to at least leave fans satisfied:
Earn a double bye in the SEC Tournament: Last year, Pope’s team entered the tournament as a 6 seed. To reach the quarterfinals without playing an extra game, UK must finish in the top four of the SEC. With three of the final five conference games on the road—at Auburn, South Carolina, and Texas A&M—and tough home matchups against Vanderbilt and Florida, the Wildcats may need to go 4-1 or even win out to secure that advantage.
Win at least two games in the SEC Tournament: Kentucky hasn’t won more than one conference tournament game in a season since 2018. Doing so this year would show real progress for Pope’s program.
Make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament: Last season, Pope guided UK to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. Reaching at least the regional semifinals this year would reaffirm Kentucky’s place among elite programs, even if injuries to key players make a deep run unlikely.
Of course, the ultimate goal is a championship. But even achieving these milestones would provide momentum as Pope enters his third season at his alma mater.
Tuesday night’s loss made the road tougher, but with focus and effort, Kentucky still has a chance to make the 2025-26 season meaningful. Fans may not be thrilled, but they could at least feel satisfied.
