Malachi Moreno deserves every bit of praise coming his way. Catching a long pass, spinning, and drilling a game-winning jumper on the road with under two seconds left is a moment that will live in Kentucky lore. But while Big Blue Nation celebrates the heroics, there’s another Wildcat who deserves recognition for why Kentucky was even in that position to begin with: Andrija Jelavic.
Moreno delivered the headline moment, but Jelavic delivered the foundation.
Andrija Jelavic brings the goods
When Kentucky announced Jayden Quaintance would be sidelined due to knee swelling, the opportunity was clear for someone else to step up. Jelavic was at the top of that list. What he brings to the floor isn’t flashy, but it’s vital. Outside of Trent Noah, few Wildcats provide the same combination of communication, defensive awareness, and feel for the game.
It’s the little things—talking on defense, switching correctly, boxing out, and making the extra pass—that elevate Kentucky when Jelavic is on the court.
Late in the game, that difference was on full display. Kentucky dumped the ball into Moreno on the block, and LSU immediately collapsed. Fresh off Nate Oats’ comments last week about Kentucky’s bigs failing to pass out of post touches, LSU dared Moreno to make the right read. Instead of kicking it to a wide-open Collin Chandler in the corner, Moreno rushed a shot that was swatted away.
Moreno made up for it with the game-winner—but those possessions often decide games long before the final buzzer. Jelavic routinely makes the right decision in those moments, keeping the offense flowing instead of forcing action.
Jelavic finished the night 2-of-3 from deep. That won’t be an every-night expectation, but it’s a bonus. His real value showed up elsewhere. He was second on the team in plus-minus at +8, added five rebounds, a block, and a steal, and consistently steadied the lineup.
Mark Pope’s adjustment to start Jelavic paid immediate dividends. He scored six of Kentucky’s first nine points and accounted for the Wildcats’ only two made field goals during the opening 12 minutes of the game.
Afterward, Pope made sure to acknowledge the impact.
“I thought he has been good defensively, keeping the ball in front of him,” Pope told Tom Leach postgame. “He is growing on the glass… He gave us good minutes tonight.”
Good minutes indeed.
As Kentucky heads from Baton Rouge to Knoxville for a Top 25 matchup against Tennessee, the Wildcats will need more than late-game heroics. They’ll need players like Andrija Jelavic—doing the unseen work, making the right reads, and quietly ensuring Kentucky has a chance to win when it matters most.
