Fresh off a big night in Knoxville, Trent Noah sat down with Jeff Goodman to reflect on his breakout 11-point performance in Kentucky’s win over Tennessee. And if you thought playing in a Kentucky-Tennessee game was special as a fan, imagine growing up bleeding blue and then suddenly being in it.
“It was awesome,” Noah said, still soaking it all in. “Growing up a Kentucky kid and bleeding blue my whole life, getting to watch the Kentucky-Tennessee games, and now being in it—it’s super cool.”
The freshman sharpshooter had Rupp Arena rocking with every shot he knocked down, and he felt it, too.
When he hit a three he said "it’s like the roof comes off,” with a grin.
Kentucky, the Mecca of College Basketball
For Noah, wearing “Kentucky” across his chest is more than just putting on a jersey—it’s a lifelong dream realized.
“Kentucky is the mecca of college basketball,” he said proudly. “I’m just blessed to be able to play here.”
His journey to Lexington wasn’t exactly straightforward. After originally committing to South Carolina, Noah decommitted and reopened his recruitment when the Wildcats came calling. With a new coaching staff in place, some might have hesitated—but not Noah.
“I just trusted God’s plan,” he said. “Because His plan is bigger than my plan.”
A Shooting Stroke, a Missed And-1, and Some Friendly Jabs
Goodman couldn’t resist poking a little fun at Noah’s late-game and-1 opportunity—one that ended with a missed layup despite getting fouled.
“Maybe I’ve been shooting too many threes,” Noah laughed. “Need to get back to the fundamentals.”
But make no mistake—when it comes to shooting, Noah belongs in the conversation. Asked about where he fits in Kentucky’s best shooter debate, he didn’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due.
“Koby’s phenomenal,” he said. “The best shooter I’ve ever been around.”
Defense? It’s Personal.
Of course, it’s not just about getting buckets. Kentucky has made defense a point of emphasis under Mark Pope, and Noah knows that’s where championships are won.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to taking it personal,” he said. “You have to sit down and guard.”
That’s the kind of mindset Pope is instilling in this team. And if Noah keeps knocking down threes and buying in on defense, he’ll be a fan favorite for years to come.
For the full interview, check out the video here.