Last night, Kentucky came as close as they have all year to a full 40-minute performance. They opened the game well, and the second half was a bunch of runs. But that last 5 minutes were a near disaster. The Cats' offense completely dried up, and Texas made its run. Thanks to a Collin Chandler "flu game," Kentucky basketball got its 4th straight win. But they lost Kam Williams in the process. Here are 5 things you need to know after Kentucky knocked off the Longhorns 85-80.
1. Kam Williams broke his foot and is out indefinitely
This is the headline nobody wanted to read. Mark Pope confirmed post-game that Kam Williams suffered a broken foot on that non-contact play early in the second half.
"Kam's foot's broken. So, he'll be out. He's just a beautiful kid...He'll be out for a while, and that's certainly a blow to us."
There is no sugarcoating this: it is a massive blow. Williams was becoming that versatile wing piece this roster desperately needed. Before leaving, he had 9 points on 2-3 from the floor. Now, with Jaland Lowe done for the year, Jayden Quaintance dealing with a mystery knee issue, and Williams out for "a while," Kentucky's depth chart is razor-thin at nearly every position.
2. Collin Chandler was the most efficient player on the floor (+24)
If you want to know why Kentucky won this game, look at Collin Chandler’s efficiency line.
- 18 Points (Career High)
- 7 Rebounds (Tied for team-high)
- +24 Efficiency Rating (Highest on the team)
- +18 Net Points (Team was +18 with him on the floor)
Remember, he missed shootaround because he was sick. He played 32 minutes and delivered a legitimate "Jordan Flu Game" performance. When the offense stalled, he was the only guy who could go get a bucket or a foul.
3. Dailyn Swain exposed Kentucky’s interior defense (48 Paint Points)
The defensive analytics tell a scary story. Texas scored 48 points in the paint compared to Kentucky’s 32.
With only Moreno as a back-line defender, Texas realized it could get to the rim at will. Moreno did have 5 blocks, but it wasn't enough. Dailyn Swain had a career night with 29 points, mostly by attacking the lane relentlessly. If Kentucky can’t find a way to wall up without fouling, SEC teams with elite guards are going to feast inside.
4. The Cats won the game at the Charity Stripe (30-of-35)
In a game where the offense disappeared late, the free throw line was the savior.
- Kentucky: 30-for-35 (85.7%)
- Texas: 18-for-20 (90%)
Kentucky generated 15 more attempts than Texas, which gets to the line at an elite rate itself. That is purely effort and aggression, and also the fact that Kentucky forced Texas into fouling late. Denzel Aberdeen (19 points) lived at the line, and Otega Oweh went 4-for-4 in crucial spots. When shots aren't falling, you have to manufacture points, and Kentucky did exactly that.
5. Kentucky didn't make a field goal for the final 5:48... and still won
This is the wildest stat of the night.
- Last FG: Collin Chandler Dunk with 5:48 to go
- FGs in final 5:48: 0-for-4, free throws 9-12
Usually, if you go nearly six minutes without a basket to close a game, you lose. But because Kentucky controlled the Free Throw Rate and got just enough stops (and that flagrant foul momentum swing), they survived. It wasn't pretty, but in the SEC, you never apologize for a win, even an ugly one.