Kentucky Basketball Continues Impressive Preseason With Win Over Texas Tech

Mark Pope and the Kentucky basketball team picked up another exhibition win Friday night, taking down the 19th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders by a score of 76-65. Following their 20-point rout of Little Rock last week, the Wildcats put on another impressive preseason display in Lexington, earning a win over a ranked opponent and showing signs of improvement in several key areas.

It wasn't the cleanest performance to start, as Kentucky turned the ball over seven times in the opening 11 minutes. Those mistakes allowed Texas Tech to build an early 25-18 lead, putting the Wildcats under pressure against a much tougher opponent than Little Rock. Kentucky responded with a 15-0 run late in the first half, taking control of the game and heading into the locker room with a 37-33 lead.

Newcomers Ousmane N'Diaye and Milan Momcilovic led the first-half surge, with N'Diaye electrifying Rupp Arena with a mammoth fast-break slam and Momcilovic finding his usual groove from beyond the arc. The stretch showcased the defensive pressure and offensive rhythm Kentucky had struggled to establish early. Despite making just one of its first 11 three-point attempts, the Wildcats found other ways to generate momentum.

The second half was much more of a seesaw battle, with the Wildcats and Red Raiders exchanging blows throughout. Kentucky briefly built a 12-point lead before Texas Tech rallied to tie the game at 52. Freshman Mason Williams helped restore the advantage with a timely three-pointer and a tough jumper, while Furman transfer Alex Wilkins delivered the decisive blow with two late triples. Kentucky ultimately pulled away, shooting 49% from the field and making 19 of 22 free throws.

Five Wildcats finished in double figures, with Momcilovic and Malachi Moreno leading the way with 15 points apiece. Williams added 14, Wilkins scored 13, and N'Diaye contributed 10. The balanced scoring and improved ball security were encouraging signs against a ranked opponent, although the Wildcats still have work to do before the regular season begins.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways for Kentucky after a big-time win over a quality Texas Tech squad.

Improving Turnover Rate

Ball security was a major issue for the Wildcats in their preseason opener against Little Rock, and it looked to be the same story early against the Red Raiders. Kentucky committed 19 turnovers against Little Rock and struggled with seven in the opening 11 minutes against Texas Tech. The difference was the quality of the opponent: against a ranked team, those mistakes can quickly translate into lost possessions and points on the other end.

Texas Tech capitalized on Kentucky's early miscues, building a seven-point lead and appearing to have control of the game. However, the Wildcats responded with a decisive run fueled by defensive pressure and improved execution. By halftime, Kentucky had erased the deficit and taken a four-point lead.

The bigger development came after the break. Kentucky committed just four more turnovers in the final 29 minutes, finishing with 11 overall. That improvement allowed the offense to find a rhythm and gave the Wildcats more opportunities to capitalize on their advantages.

While 11 turnovers is still an area for improvement, the second-half performance showed that Kentucky can settle down and limit mistakes when the game gets tight. Maintaining that level of ball security will be especially important against SEC opponents, who are likely to be more effective at turning careless possessions into scoring opportunities.

Milan Momcilovic As Good As Advertised

After missing out on Tyran Stokes, the Wildcats pivoted and landed one of the best transfers available in Milan Momcilovic. The Iowa State transfer entered the season with lofty expectations, and he has lived up to them through Kentucky's first two exhibition games.

Momcilovic led all scorers against Little Rock with 16 points before following that up with 15 against Texas Tech. Through two games, he has made six of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc, showcasing his well-known lethality from three-point range.

His impact against Texas Tech was particularly encouraging because Kentucky's outside shooting was inconsistent for much of the night. The Wildcats made just seven of 24 three-point attempts overall, but Momcilovic continued to provide spacing and a scoring option. His presence alone greatly impacts the entire floor, as he can open space for his teammates just with the threat he provides.

In a way, Momcilovic could fill the role Otega Oweh played as a dependable scoring option when Kentucky needed a spark. While their playing styles differ, having a player capable of producing points during difficult stretches will be invaluable throughout the season.

Momcilovic has the potential to make his mark in Kentucky's record books this season, and his shooting ability could make him one of the most important pieces of Pope's offense.

Mason Williams Could Be A Star In The Making

After Mark Pope missed out on virtually all of his high school targets this year, Mason Williams arrived on campus as Kentucky's lone high school recruit. He was a well-regarded prospect, but not necessarily one who generated widespread national attention. A four-star point guard ranked toward the bottom of the top 100 recruits, he committed to Kentucky to join forces with his father, assistant coach Mo Williams.

With the arrival of Zoom Diallo from Washington, most Kentucky fans expected Williams to be used sparingly as a rotation piece during his freshman season. So far, it looks like Pope will have a tough time taking him off the floor.

Williams has scored 24 points through the first two exhibition games, shooting 9-for-13 from the field. That is a field-goal percentage of 69.2%, tied with Malachi Moreno for the highest on the team. He has also gone 3-for-5 from three-point range, recording three assists against just one turnover.

His performance against Texas Tech offered a particularly promising glimpse of his potential. With the game tied at 54 in the second half, Williams knocked down a three-pointer to give Kentucky the lead. He followed it with a steal that led to a Moreno free throw, then added a jumper in the lane to help extend the advantage.

That sequence demonstrated more than just scoring ability. Williams showed composure in a close game, made an impact defensively, and contributed without needing to dominate the ball. His ability to make sound decisions while creating opportunities for himself and his teammates could prove especially valuable in Pope's system.

For a freshman guard, that combination of efficiency, defensive activity, and poise is an encouraging sign. Williams still has to prove he can sustain this level of play against regular-season competition, but his early performances suggest he could earn a much larger role than initially expected. Shifty, skilled, and possessing a basketball IQ beyond his years, he could be an X-factor for the Wildcats this season.

End Of My Kentucky Basketball Rant

All things considered, this was a significant step forward for Kentucky. Taking care of business against a team like Little Rock is one thing, but responding to early mistakes and defeating a ranked opponent is a more meaningful preseason test. The Wildcats showed they can recover from a difficult start, find scoring from multiple players, and execute in the closing minutes.

The final statistics also offer reasons for optimism. Kentucky shot 49% from the field, had five players reach double figures, and made 86.4% of its free throws. Defensively, the Wildcats also held Texas Tech to just eight three-pointers on 30 attempts, limiting the Red Raiders to a 26.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

Still, the performance was far from flawless. Kentucky's early turnovers and inconsistent three-point shooting showed that the offense can still become stagnant, particularly when opponents apply pressure. Texas Tech also managed to erase the Wildcats' early second-half advantage and tie the game, highlighting the need for greater consistency over a full 40 minutes.

Despite areas for improvement, a win of this stature, preseason or not, is a huge confidence boost to a new-look Kentucky squad many are overlooking.

Kentucky will look to complete a perfect preseason when it hosts the UCF Knights on Wednesday night. The exhibition will serve as the Wildcats' final tune-up before the regular season begins on November 3.

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