Kentucky Wildcats vs Brown Bears Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024

No. 10 Kentucky Ready to Bounce Back Against Brown

Kentucky’s heading back to the court on Tuesday, and let’s just say they’ve got something to prove. After a rough 85-65 loss to Ohio State on Dec. 21, the Wildcats are looking to shake off the frustration and get back on track against Brown.

Kentucky’s Time to Reset

That loss to Ohio State wasn’t just a bad game—it was brutal. Shooting just 29.8% from the field while the Buckeyes hit almost 57%? Yeah, not exactly what you’d expect from a top-10 team. Coach Mark Pope didn’t sugarcoat it:

“What a bad night. Just devastating. It was the worst, the worst ever. To do it in that venue wearing this jersey, it’s devastating.”

But after a 10-day break, Kentucky (10-2) is ready to move on. Pope sees this matchup against Brown as a chance to regroup before opening SEC play against Florida this weekend.

Despite the hiccup, Kentucky’s offense has been on fire this season, averaging a whopping 89.1 points per game. When they’re on, they’re on, but their two losses (Ohio State and Clemson) both saw them struggle to even hit 70 points.

Otega Oweh has been a standout for the Wildcats, leading the team with 16.2 points per game. He dropped 21 against Ohio State and nailed all 13 of his free throws. Lamont Butler (14.0 PPG), Jaxson Robinson (12.3 PPG), Koby Brea (11.8 PPG), and Andrew Carr (11.1 PPG) round out a solid core that’s ready to bounce back.

Brown’s Looking for Redemption Too

Brown (7-4) was riding a six-game win streak before they ran into No. 8 Kansas on Dec. 22, and let’s just say it wasn’t their night. They got hammered 87-53, shooting just 26.7% from the field and 8-of-33 from deep.

Coach Mike Martin didn’t hold back when talking about the loss:

“We struggled to score the basketball. Kansas made us uncomfortable with their pressure and switching. We had moments where we got great shots, but they didn’t go in.”

Even in the loss, Kino Lilly Jr. showed why he’s Brown’s star player. He scored 18 points and moved into third place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,626 career points. Lilly’s also Brown’s all-time leader in three-pointers (284) and is averaging a cool 20.0 points per game this season.

Landon Lewis (13.9 PPG, 63.2% FG) and Aaron Cooley (12.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG) have been key contributors as well, but the Bears will need to bring their A-game to hang with Kentucky.

What to Watch For

Kentucky

• Oweh’s Hot Hand: Otega Oweh has been a consistent force for the Wildcats. If he gets rolling early, Brown could be in trouble.
• Strong Start: After that Ohio State loss, Kentucky needs to come out swinging and make a statement.
• Defensive Improvements: Letting Ohio State shoot nearly 57% isn’t going to cut it. Look for the Wildcats to tighten things up on defense.

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Brown

• Kino Lilly Jr.’s Scoring: Lilly has been a scoring machine all season, and if he gets hot from three, Brown could keep it interesting.
• Handling Pressure: Kansas’ defense rattled the Bears, and Kentucky will likely try to do the same. Can Brown stay composed and execute their offense?
• Rebounding Battle: Aaron Cooley’s work on the boards will be critical to limiting Kentucky’s second-chance points.

Why It Matters

For Kentucky, this is about bouncing back and building momentum heading into SEC play. For Brown, it’s a shot at redemption after their loss to Kansas and a chance to show they can hang with a top-10 team.

With Kentucky’s firepower and Brown’s scrappy underdog mentality, this game has all the makings of a fun, hard-fought battle. Don’t miss it.