Five things you need to know from Kentucky’s dispiriting 86-78 loss to Georgia
Five things you need to know from Kentucky’s 86-78 loss vs. Georgia:
1. Kentucky runs into a desperate team — and pays. Georgia came to Lexington having lost five of its past six.
What had seemed a certain NCAA Tournament bid for the Bulldogs (now 18-8, 6-7 SEC) seemed to be slipping away.
At Rupp Arena, the Dawgs played like a team fighting to save their season.
A 31.7 percent 3-point shooting team on the season, Georgia knocked down 45.2% (14 of 31) vs. UK.
The Bulldogs forced Kentucky into 13 turnovers, while committing only seven themselves. That led to a decisive 22-9 edge for the visitors in points off of turnovers.
Georgia had played its previous two games without leading scorer Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.1 points a game). He returned at Rupp and scored 19 points.
Down five points at halftime, Kentucky continually made runs at Georgia. Every time, the Dawgs had an answer.
Georgia deserved the win it really needed.
2. Kentucky free-throw shooting. In 12 SEC games prior to Tuesday, UK had shot under 70% from the foul line seven times — and been under 60% twice.
Against Georgia, UK had another errant performance from the charity stripe — and it really hurt the Cats.
For the game, Kentucky shot 60% from the line, 12 of 20.
In the second half, when UK was desperately seeking to rally from behind, the Cats were worse from the free-throw line at 58.3% (7 of 12).
The Wildcats have been playing with fire throughout the SEC season with their errant foul shooting. It really bit the Cats on Tuesday night.
3. UK’s “would have been” Class of 2024. Former UK signee Somto Cyril was a big reason why Georgia beat Kentucky.
The 6-foot-11, 260-pound center had 14 points and eight rebounds. With Georgia clinging to an 81-78 lead, Cyril scored the game’s biggest bucket on a putback dunk with 44.3 seconds left.
With Cyril having started at center for Georgia, it means that UK fans have now seen every member of what would have been Kentucky’s 2023-24 recruiting class had John Calipari not resigned play in Wildcats’ games this season.
To review:
• Somto Cyril: Entered Tuesday’s game vs. UK averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks and shooting 74.8%.
The 6-11, 260-pound sophomore (see above) was terrific vs. the Cats Tuesday night.
• Boogie Fland. After following Calipari to Arkansas for his freshman season, the 6-3, 185-pound sophomore is averaging 11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Florida this season.
In the Gators’ 92-83 win over UK Saturday, Fland had eight ponts, four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
• Karter Knox. The 6-6, 220-pound sophomore wing is averaging 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 46% for Calipari at Arkansas.
In UK’s 85-77 win at Arkansas last month, Knox played only 16 minutes, missed his only shot attempt and finish with no points and one rebound.
• Travis Perry. After playing for Kentucky as a freshman, the 6-1, 185-pound Perry is averaging five points, 1.3 rebounds and shooting 34.2% for Ole Miss as a sophomore.
In the Rebels’ 72-63 loss to UK at Rupp Arena on Jan. 24, Perry missed all three of his shot attempts and finished with no points, two rebounds and a steal.
• Jayden Quaintance. After playing for Arizona State as a freshman, the 6-10, 255-pound big man transferred to play for the team, UK, with which he had originally signed.
Alas, trying to return from a torn ACL suffered late in his freshman season at ASU, Quaintance has appeared in only four games and is averaging five points and five rebounds while shooting 57.1%.
• Billy Richmond III. The 6-6, 205-pound sophomore wing is averaging 9.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and shooting 58.8% for Arkansas.
In the Razorbacks’ loss to UK, Richmond hit 6 of 8 shots and finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
4. Oweh in the UK record books. Kentucky standout Otega Oweh matched his career high with 28 points vs., Georgia. He now has 1,036 points in his two-year UK career and has moved up to 58th on the all-time Kentucky scoring list.
Oweh has now scored in double figures in all 26 UK games this season and in 69 of the 72 games in which he has worn the Wildcats uniform.
5. Mike White vs. the Cats. With Georgia’s win, the Bulldogs head coach has tied Nate Oats for the second-most wins over Kentucky among current SEC men’s hoops coaches.
How current SEC men’s basketball coaches have fared vs. Kentucky:
• Alabama: Nate Oats 7-5 (0-1 at Buffalo, 7-4 at Alabama)
• Arkansas: John Calipari 3-5 (1-4 at UMass, 1-0 at Memphis, 1-1 at Arkansas).
• Auburn: Steven Pearl 0-0 (will face UK for the first time as a head coach Saturday night).
• Florida: Todd Golden 2-4
• Georgia: Mike White 7-12 (4-10 at Florida, 3-2 at Georgia)
• LSU: Matt McMahon 1-3
• Mississippi State: Chris Jans 0-5
• Missouri: Dennis Gates 2-2
• Oklahoma: Porter Moser 0-3
• Ole Miss: Chris Beard 1-3 (0-1 at Texas Tech, 1-2 at Mississippi)
• South Carolina: Lamont Paris 2-1
• Tennessee: Rick Barnes 13-16 (1-1 at Clemson, 0-1 at Texas, 12-14 at Tennessee)
• Texas: Sean Miller 0-1
• Texas A&M: Bucky McMillan will face the Wildcats for the first time March 3.
• Vanderbilt: Mark Byington 2-1.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 11:40 PM.
