Photo: Chet White | UK Athletics

Letting a tough loss snowball into consecutive defeats is frustrating for coaches, players, and fans alike. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what seems to be happening with the Kentucky Wildcats right now.

The team’s loss to a struggling Arkansas squad in Rupp Arena carried over into their trip to Oxford to face Ole Miss. That game, one of the most disappointing in Mark Pope’s first season, ended with a 98-84 defeat— a 14-point loss that felt much worse. Despite a 53-point second half, Kentucky never seemed in control. They went into halftime trailing 54-31, and though they rallied after the break, it was clear the gap was too wide to close.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup, Kentucky (currently reeling with multiple losses) will host winless South Carolina for an early tip-off at Rupp Arena. While the Gamecocks are 0-9 in conference play, don’t be fooled by their record. South Carolina has lost five games by five points or fewer, many of which were against ranked teams that Kentucky has faced this season, including Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Florida, and Auburn. Additionally, USC boasts a non-conference win over Clemson— a team Kentucky fans are all too familiar with after their earlier showdown.

Another key factor heading into this game is the availability of two Wildcats: Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, both listed as questionable on the SEC availability report. Mark Pope has labeled them as game-time decisions, and their absence would have a major impact on the team’s performance.

Slow Starts

One major question Kentucky fans will be watching closely is how the Wildcats start the game. In their recent losses—against Ole Miss, Arkansas, and others—the team has struggled early, facing significant halftime deficits. Against Ole Miss, they trailed by 23 points at the break. Against Arkansas, it was a single-point deficit. They were down by three at halftime against Tennessee, and Vanderbilt led by 14, while Alabama was up by two. While Kentucky has mounted impressive second-half comebacks against teams like Duke and Gonzaga, falling behind early is a pattern that cannot continue in SEC play.

Can Kentucky rebound and find their confidence against South Carolina? Fans are hopeful that Mark Pope and his team can get back on track and right the ship.