Fans fell in love with Mark Pope’s first Kentucky basketball team for its fast breaks, quick passes, three-point flurries, and a big man who could find teammates with a soft touch. Those elements have largely been absent in season two of the Pope era.
But on Saturday night, in a 72-60 victory over Indiana — a must-win game for a team trying to silence doubters — Kentucky found a different kind of beauty. “I mean, oof, we’re not a thing of beauty right now,” Pope admitted postgame. Then he corrected himself: “Actually, that’s not true. That’s not true. I actually thought it was beautiful tonight. Because the relentless force was beautiful.”
It wasn’t pretty. UK shot just 37.9% from the field and 3-for-15 from three. They trailed by nine at halftime and looked like they might fold early. But what the Wildcats lacked in polish, they made up for in grit, hustle, and heart.
For much of the first half, Kentucky resembled the teams that had fallen to Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, and Gonzaga earlier this season. The Cats went 1-for-9 from deep in the opening 20 minutes and entered halftime down 39-32.
The second half started similarly sluggish, but then Pope’s players began to respond the way he’d been demanding for weeks. Loose balls were chased, passing lanes were clogged, and missed shots were met with offensive rebounds and second-chance points. Each gritty play earned roars from the Rupp crowd.
With 14 minutes left, the Cats were down 49-42. Then the game flipped. A 17-2 run, sparked by hustle and tenacity, gave Kentucky the lead for good. Mouhamed Dioubate, returning from a five-game absence due to an ankle injury, led the charge. The 6-foot-10 forward scored 14 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and tallied five steals — including a signature sequence that summed up the night.
After Brandon Garrison fought for an offensive rebound and putback, he made a key defensive play, stealing the ball and setting up Jaland Lowe for a layup. Lowe missed, but Dioubate fought through five Indiana defenders in the paint to put it back in, giving the Cats a 50-49 lead. The Rupp crowd erupted.
Garrison, who had been benched earlier in the week for lack of effort, played a pivotal role in the comeback. “I wish I could tell you I know how every player is going to react to every confrontation,” Pope said. “It’s just like your children, you don’t. So I’m left with just real pride. Like, BG’s mom should be really proud. And his inner circle should be really proud. Because there’s something inside him.”
During that 17-2 run, Garrison added a putback, assist, block, and the key steal that sparked the go-ahead play. Pope praised his player’s dedication, noting that Garrison could have pouted or withdrawn but chose to respond instead. “It’s going to be a little part of his DNA. It doesn’t mean he’s going to respond right all the time, but it means there’s a way better chance that next time — in life, in basketball, in whatever — he’s going to have a chance to respond better. And that’s how you become a great man.”
Kentucky finished the game with nine offensive rebounds on 17 second-half misses and beat Indiana 18-6 in second-chance points. For the first time all season, the Cats found a way to win when the offense faltered against quality competition.
“This is probably not where we are in our confidence and our courage and our spirit right now,” Pope said. “Right now — like to tip the needle and bring back some belief and consolidate ourselves as a team — it’s probably going to be like gross, beautiful basketball, like it was tonight.”
To outside observers, it may have looked rough. But to Pope and the Rupp faithful, it was exactly the kind of fight that had been missing all season. After an embarrassing 94-59 loss to Gonzaga eight nights earlier, the Wildcats were booed and scrutinized by fans and UK legends alike. “Listen, I don’t shy away from the truth, even when it hurts,” Pope said. “Might as well own it. So we tried to own it as a team.”
And on Saturday, that ownership paid off. Kentucky survived its ugly first half, embraced a grittier identity, and came away with a win. “I’m really happy with the guys, and we just got to move on to the next step,” Pope said. “We’re gonna have to embrace this personality for a while. I do think we have a chance to grow into an elite offensive team. I just don’t think it’s gonna happen tomorrow.”
What happened Saturday night wasn’t pretty. But it was exactly what Kentucky needed — a win forged through effort, toughness, and the relentless pursuit of victory.
