Listen, it was ugly for nearly the entire night against LSU. Kentucky had turnovers, bad passes, and missed shots, but they never gave in.
It ended with a moment of pure brilliance from Collin Chandler and Malachi Moreno, sending BBN from "fire everyone" to pure elation in the blink of an eye. Just look at the wild mood swing in these posts.
The Misery: With Kentucky down 19-5, BBN was not happy.
Hey @KySportsRadio this job isn’t for Mark Pope. Idc how you feel, idc who pays the buyout not my problem. Mark Pope needs to be fired. He is destroying the program we love & have watched all our lives. This is disgusting #BBN
— Wandering Wildcat (@WildcatOutcast) January 15, 2026
Miss watching competitive Kentucky basketball team, get Mark Pope out of Lexington and lets get back to being a respected program! #FirePope #BBN #MarkPopeSucks
— K Hayes (@k_hayes99) January 15, 2026
The Cats battled back and got it down to 30-20 before the break, but an LSU run exploded the lead back up to 38-22 at halftime. The team looked lost on both offense and defense. They just could not get much going at all.
I’ve seen enough to know that Mark Pope ain’t it. Roster construction, lineup choices, attitude when things aren’t going well. This is a dumpster fire
— Bo Zimmerman (@TheRealBoZimm) January 15, 2026
I wish I was numb to the pain but instead I let this Kentucky MBB team crush my soul twice a week
— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) January 15, 2026
The Hope: The climb back
The second half started a little better, and the Cats kept chipping away. eventually storming back from 18 down to take their first lead of the night. It was a familiar spot for Kentucky. They had a game in their sights; they needed it, and unlike the Missouri game, this team just wouldn't fold.
Kentucky is scoring, but incapable of getting stops right now. Three straight buckets for the Cats, but four straight for the Tigers.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) January 15, 2026
61-54 with 8:12 to go
They kept fighting and fighting, even when calls wouldn't go its way. This was a team that had a desire to win, and they kept coming.
The ruling was Shot clock violation pic.twitter.com/IkAz5I8fZT
— Rare Rookies #BBN (@rarerookies) January 15, 2026
The chaos: The finish
Wild sequence of events:
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) January 15, 2026
—Kentucky was down 18
—Otega Oweh shot clock violation w/ less than a minute to go
—Oweh missed 1 of 2 FTs w/ 4.5 to go
—LSU misses BOTH FTs w/ 1.6 to go
—Home run inbound actually works and a freshman who doesn't shoot w/ range often actually sinks it
Otega Oweh got to the line with a chance to tie it up with 4 seconds to go. He made the first—but short-armed the second. It set the stage for a dramatic finish that could change the trajectory of the entire season.
LSU got the rebound and was fouled, but proceeded to miss both free throws. Kentucky snagged the rebound and called its final timeout.
The miracle
Everyone wants to mention 1992, and rightfully so. It was a clutch play, a long heave, and a turnaround jumper that had very little chance of actually working. But this time, it worked in Kentucky's favor.
MALACHI MORENO FOR THE WIN 😼😼😼😼😼😼😼 pic.twitter.com/6fXGVwMNBA
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 15, 2026
Miracles can still happen even before Mardi Gras 😉 pic.twitter.com/a2X6XwyluM
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 15, 2026
This is Kentucky basketball! https://t.co/CcRqiFREVs
— RevLarry (@MikeLowery1) January 15, 2026
If you have been frustrated with Kentucky basketball up to this point this season, you’re reasonable. If you have called for Mark Pope’s job halfway into his second season, after what he did through an adverse year one, you’re ignorant. Or just stupid.
— J. Hall (@JHallzoom) January 15, 2026
On the postgame radio show, Malachi Moreno admitted the play was actually designed for Denzel Aberdeen. But the pass was overthrown, so Moreno did his best Odell Beckham Jr. impression, snatching the ball out of the air, turning around, and saving Kentucky's season with a free-throw line jumper.