Kentucky's SEC winning streak is the longest in the Mark Pope era

It got a little scary at the end, but Kentucky took care of business, beating Texas 85-80 to win its fourth consecutive game. That ties the longest winning streak of the season and is the longest conference winning streak of the Mark Pope era at Kentucky.

The last time Kentucky won four or more SEC games in a row was the end of the 2023-24 regular season, five straight wins over Alabama, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee. The Cats can match that streak on Saturday at home vs. Ole Miss, the “easiest” game left on the schedule according to KenPom’s projections.

We’ll get back to those in a minute. First, some more fun numbers from the win, courtesy of the UK Athletics staff:

— Tonight marks the first time since February 1984 that Kentucky has won three straight SEC games by five or fewer points.

— Texas came into the game No. 1 in the country in free throw attempts, but Kentucky got to the line more often tonight, going 30-35 from the charity stripe, 23-27 in the second half. Those 30 made free throws are the most since the Cats hit 34 vs. Arkansas in March 2024. Kentucky’s 85.7% free-throw percentage is the highest (min. 30 attempts) since Feb. 4, 2020 (86.1%).

— Denzel Aberdeen during Kentucky’s four-game winning streak: 18.5 points per game, 52.9 3PT%. Denzel Aberdeen in the previous seven games: 8.1 PPG, 33.3 3PT% (via Jeff Borzello)

— Collin Chandler during Kentucky’s four-game winning streak: 11.5 PPG, 47.4 3PT%. Collin Chandler in the previous six games: 3.0 PPG, 23.1 3PT% (via Jeff Borzello)

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— Texas was just 2-18 (11.1%) from the three-point line tonight, the lowest percentage by a UK opponent (min. 15 attempts) since Alabama shot 10% in February 2022. Kentucky is now 8-0 this season when it holds its opponent under 30% from three.

— Otega Oweh had 18 points tonight, extending his streak of scoring in double figures to 22 games dating back to last season.

— Malachi Moreno finished with eight points, four rebounds, a career-high-tying six assists, and a career-best five blocked shots. He’s the first Kentucky player with those stats in a game since Nerlens Noel vs. Texas A&M on Jan. 12, 2013.

KenPom Projections for the rest of the season

KenPom picked Kentucky to win this game 82-76. It has Kentucky winning six more SEC games to finish 19-12, 10-8 in SEC play. Home games vs. Ole Miss (Saturday) and Oklahoma (Feb. 4) are the “easiest” remaining, with KenPom giving Kentucky an 81% chance to beat the Rebels and an 80% chance to beat the Sooners. The “hardest” games are at Florida (21%), at Vanderbilt (29%), and at Arkansas (30%). Of course, two of those, vs. the Commodores and the Razorbacks, happen next week.

Sat Jan 24	Mississippi	W, 78-69 (81%)
Tue Jan 27	at Vanderbilt	L, 83-77 (29%)
Sat Jan 31	at Arkansas	L, 86-80 (30%)
Wed Feb 4	Oklahoma	W, 83-73 (80%)
Sat Feb 7	Tennessee	W, 75-73 (58%)
Sat Feb 14	at Florida	L, 83-74 (21%)
Tue Feb 17	Georgia	W, 85-81 (63%)
Sat Feb 21	at Auburn	L, 81-78 (39%)
Tue Feb 24	at South Carolina	W, 76-72 (62%)
Sat Feb 28	Vanderbilt	W, 81-80 (51%)
Tue Mar 3	at Texas A&M	L, 80-79 (46%)
Sat Mar 7	Florida	L, 79-77 (42%)