Kentucky basketball crushes Vanderbilt: What soared and what still needs work

Kentucky basketball turned Rupp Arena into a party zone, flattening Vanderbilt 82-61 in a game that felt like a tale of two halves. The Wildcats didn’t just win—they dominated, flexing their muscle in ways that had fans roaring and Vandy reeling. But even in a blowout, there’s room to grow. Let’s break down what clicked, what sparkled, and what still needs a little elbow grease after this SEC smackdown.

Kentucky soared

First, the good stuff—because there’s plenty to unpack. Kentucky’s offense was a buzzsaw, shredding Vandy’s defense for a 58% field-goal clip and a blistering 11-for-27 from downtown. Otega Oweh was a one-man wrecking crew, dropping 20 points with 7-of-10 shooting, while Amari Williams went a perfect 6-for-6 for 17 points and added four blocks owning the paint.

Koby Brea chipped in 12 points, including three triples, and the Cats didn’t miss a single free throw—13-for-13, pure money. That second half? A 41-21 rout that turned a one-point halftime squeaker into a laugher. Kentucky flipped the script on rebounding too.

After getting outworked 18-12 on the glass in the first half (8-2 on offensive boards), they battled back to finish even at 30-30, snagging 28 defensive rebounds to slam the door shut.

The defense stepped up big-time too. Seven blocks—four from Williams alone—had Vandy shooters second-guessing every move. The Commodores managed just 21 points after halftime, shooting a measly 40.3% for the game and an ice-cold 5-for-25 from three.

Devin McGlockton led Vandy with 14 points, and Jaylen Carey added 12 off the bench, but Kentucky’s pressure turned their offense into a turnover buffet, coughing up 10 miscues that the Cats turned into 18 points.

What still needs work

Now, the not-so-shiny spots. Rebounding started ugly—Vandy owned the offensive glass early, grabbing eight boards to Kentucky’s two in the first half. That’s how the Commodores hung around, trailing just 41-40 at the break despite Kentucky’s hot shooting.

The Cats fixed it later, but those early lapses let Vandy linger longer than they should’ve. Turnovers were another sore spot—13 giveaways, including three each from Travis Perry and Andrew Carr, handed Vandy 17 points. Against a tougher foe, that sloppiness could’ve stung.

Tale of two halves

Let’s talk first half vs. full game. At halftime, Kentucky’s 50% shooting and 5-for-15 from three had them up by one, but Vandy’s rebounding edge kept it close. Fast forward to the final buzzer, and the Cats jacked up their shooting to 58% and 40.7% from deep, while clamping down to limit Vandy to 21 second-half points.

The rebounding turnaround was clutch—going from down six to even, with 28 defensive boards to Vandy’s 19. That’s the kind of fight that turns a tight game into a rout.

So, what’s the takeaway? Kentucky’s got a lethal offense and a defense that can suffocate when it locks in. Oweh and Williams are beasts, and that second-half surge showed what this team can do when the pedal’s to the floor.

But those early rebounding woes and careless turnovers? They’re the cracks in the armor that better teams—like a top-tier SEC rival—might pry open. If the Cats clean that up, watch out. For now, though, this win’s a statement: Kentucky’s got the goods, even if they’re still sanding down the rough edges and missing key players.