The crackle of the radio carried Mark Pope’s voice across the Bluegrass State, steady and certain. “I think all of our guys are primed,” he told Kentucky fans, his words cutting through the static like a promise. And when the Wildcats took the court, they made good on it. They’d better because Pope wasn’t about to disappoint. Not after he’d put his money where his mouth was—literally—offering to cover gas for fans making the trek to Milwaukee. But there’s one thing in particular Pope’s proud of.
The third-seeded Wildcats stormed into the tournament with a mission—to erase the ghosts of last year’s stunning first-round exit to 14-seed Oakland. That loss still lingered, but this Kentucky squad was built differently. When the moment called, they answered.
With just over three minutes left in the first half against 14-seed Troy, a nail-biting 25-24 lead turned into a full-throttle Kentucky surge. As Wyatt Huff posted on X, “Mark Pope: ‘I thought one of the biggest plays of the game was Trent’s three.’” Trent Noah buried a clutch three, Andrew Carr followed with another, and Amari Williams bulldozed through the defense for a dunk. In the span of a minute, Kentucky’s lead swelled—and from there, they never looked back.
But there was another story at play.
Mark Pope: “I thought one of the biggest plays of the game was Trent’s three.”
— Wyatt Huff (@Wildcat_wave) March 22, 2025
It was the bench production, just as Pope had predicted. “These guys coming off the bench are going to be so important in 48 hours,” he declared before tipoff. He couldn’t have been more right.
The bench—so often Kentucky’s quiet backbone—answered the call, pouring in 26 points, a surge beyond their season average of 22.7.
Collin Chandler cashed in nine points, Brandon Garrison powered through for 13, and Trent Noah’s clutch three ignited a surge that put Troy in the rearview. Altogether, the Wildcats’ reserves shined when the stakes were highest. The Kentucky faithful—many fueled by Pope’s gas-money promise—watched their team break away, securing a dominant 76-57 victory.
Otega Oweh was the star of the night, filling the box score with 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Carr added 13, while Williams dominated the glass with 13 boards. Kentucky’s defensive intensity held Troy to just 34.9% shooting, forcing 11 turnovers that turned into 19 crucial points.
Mark Pope heads for more with Lamont Butler numb to injury
For Mark Pope, this win wasn’t just about advancing—it was about identity. “I was really proud of our guys just being able to lose themselves in this moment,” he said. “They did a wonderful job of being fully present and understanding that this is everything we want.”
Kentucky (23-11) now moves one step closer to its ultimate goal, with a second-round battle against the winner of Illinois vs. Xavier looming. But for the Wildcats, survival isn’t just about talent—it’s about resilience. “It’s a big relief, winning that first game. The first game’s always tough,” said Lamont Butler, who gutted through a lingering shoulder injury. “Now we’re moving on to the next game. We have to win that one and move on to the Sweet 16.”
Jan 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Pope, grinning, put it bluntly: “Lamont’s arms are hanging on by a thread. They’re actually taped together, and he’s out here competing. And our whole roster is doing the same thing.”
Butler has played nearly half the season with a massive brace on his left shoulder, an injury that has cost him eight games. When he sat out Kentucky’s SEC Tournament loss to Alabama, his absence was glaring. His offense—11.5 points and 4.3 assists per game—is important, but his defense is what makes him irreplaceable. A former Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, Butler spent Friday night hounding Troy’s primary ball handler, making life miserable for the Trojans.
He didn’t score a single point, in his 25 minutes of playtime but he didn’t need to. He made winning plays. When asked postgame about his health, Butler brushed it off: “I’m doing alright. We won, so I’m excited. We’ve got to play better on Sunday.”
And on Sunday, the Wildcats will fight for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019. The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Big Blue Nation still has a team to believe in, a coach who backs them at every turn, and stars who are proving they belong on this stage.
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