Kentucky built a respectable 35-27 lead by halftime, shooting 50% from the field compared to Troy’s 33%. It looked like the Wildcats were ready to run away with things early in the second half, as a quick flurry pushed their lead to 13 points. However, Troy's Tayton Conerway hit a three to cut it back to 10, and the game’s tension only grew from there.
Amari Williams, struggling at the rim and shooting just 2-of-8, did manage to grab Kentucky’s first offensive rebound of the game—an eye-popping stat considering it came over three minutes into the second half. The Wildcats’ inability to generate second-chance points has been a glaring issue over the past couple of games, and something Coach Mark Pope will have to address if his team wants to make a deep run in March.
The Turning Point
Despite the concerning offensive rebounding numbers, Kentucky responded. Collin Chandler was electric off the bench, hitting a critical three-pointer to push the lead back to nine before drawing a foul on another deep attempt and calmly sinking all three free throws. Moments later, he drilled another three from the corner to balloon the lead to 17. Kentucky never looked back.
Brandon Garrison chipped in with a rare three-pointer, and when Troy finally ended its five-minute scoring drought with a layup, Kentucky responded with another burst. Koby Brea’s three-pointer and an Otega Oweh slam off a Williams outlet pass had fans leaping out of their seats.
Closing the Door
Despite a valiant effort from Troy—whose defense racked up an impressive 10 steals on the night—Kentucky’s offense eventually overwhelmed them. A 7-0 spurt, capped by an Oweh layup, pushed the lead to 20 with just over three minutes remaining. When Williams finally threw down a dunk, it felt like a moment of catharsis for the big man and his teammates alike.
By the time the walk-ons hit the court, the game was in hand. The Wildcats finished shooting nearly 48% from the field and a solid 39% from three-point range. More importantly, they turned 11 Trojan turnovers into 19 points, a testament to their ability to capitalize on mistakes.
What Needs to Be Fixed
Despite the win, it’s clear Kentucky has work to do. Their struggles at the rim—particularly from Williams—are concerning, and their lack of offensive rebounds nearly opened the door for Troy to pull off a massive upset. It’s not every day you see a team go almost 25 minutes without a single offensive rebound, especially in the NCAA Tournament.
If Kentucky wants to make a deep run, they’ll need to clean up those areas of concern. But for now, the Wildcats and their fans can breathe a little easier, knowing they’ve survived and advanced.
Key Stats
- Kentucky: 47.5% FG, 38.5% 3PT, 62.5% FT, 39 Rebounds (7 Offensive), 23 Assists, 5 Steals, 6 Blocks, 10 Turnovers, 19 Points Off Turnovers.
- Troy: 34.9% FG, 25.0% 3PT, 55.6% FT, 38 Rebounds (11 Offensive), 14 Assists, 10 Steals, 1 Block, 11 Turnovers, 12 Points Off Turnovers.
What’s Next?
With the first-round jitters behind them, Kentucky will need to regroup and refocus. The road ahead only gets tougher, but this team has shown it can weather adversity. We will find out who they play after Xavier and Illinois tip off in about 20 minutes.