The Kentucky Wildcats showcased their strength in the NCAA Tournament, defeating the Troy Trojans with a decisive score of 76-57. Otega Oweh led the charge for Kentucky, scoring an impressive 20 points while also contributing eight assists and six rebounds. Andrew Carr added 13 points, and Amari Williams was a force on the boards, grabbing 13 rebounds to help secure the victory.
With this win, Kentucky advances to face the winner of the matchup between Illinois and Xavier in the Midwest Region. “It's a big relief, winning that first game. The first game's always tough,” remarked Kentucky guard Lamont Butler. He expressed the team's determination, saying, “Now we're moving on to the next game. We have to win that one and move on to the Sweet 16.” Last year, as a No. 3 seed, Kentucky faced an early exit, losing to 14th-seeded Oakland, but this year's roster has changed significantly, and they appeared focused and ready.
Mark Pope, who took the helm as head coach last April, emphasized the importance of staying grounded amid the pressure of the tournament. “I’m fighting so hard to keep bringing myself back to not taking on the magnitude of the history of all the things that are just too big and all turn out to be distractions,” he said. Pope expressed pride in his team's ability to remain present and focused on the task at hand, stating, “I thought they did a wonderful job of being fully present and understanding that this is everything we want.”
Myles Rigsby led the Trojans with 14 points, while Tayton Conerway contributed 12 points. Despite falling short, Troy's coach, Scott Cross, praised his team for their recent performance leading up to the tournament. “We didn’t play our best basketball tonight, but what they did the last three or four weeks is absolutely amazing,” Cross said. Conerway reflected on the significance of participating in the NCAA Tournament, saying, “This is the type of stuff you dream about in the driveway, now you’re actually under the big lights.”
This marked only the third appearance for Troy in the NCAA Tournament, their first since 2017 when they lost to Duke. The Trojans, who first appeared in the tournament in 2003, have made great strides under Coach Cross, who recognized Conerway's potential when few others did. “Not a lot of coaches gave me a chance,” Conerway stated. “Coach Cross gave me a chance to let me come out here and show what I can do, and I’ll always appreciate him for that.”
A pivotal moment in the game came when Kentucky took a narrow 25-24 lead with just over three minutes left in the first half. They quickly extended their lead by scoring eight consecutive points, which included back-to-back three-pointers from Trent Noah and Carr, followed by a fast-break dunk from Williams.
Despite playing through pain, Lamont Butler logged 25 minutes on the court. He is currently managing a shoulder injury that caused him to miss six games earlier this season. “I got through the whole game. I'm grateful for that,” Butler acknowledged, though he was frustrated with his offensive performance, stating, “I didn’t have my best game, but I tried to impact the game in different ways.”
With this victory, the Kentucky Wildcats continue their journey in the NCAA Tournament, aiming for a successful run toward the Sweet 16.
