Kentucky vs. Kansas score, takeaways: Jayhawks snap three-game losing streak with road win in blue-blood clash

No. 9 Kansas handed the Wildcats their first loss after four-straight wins with a 77-68 road win at Rupp Arena

No. 9 Kansas snapped its three-game losing streak in one of college basketball's toughest venues as the Jayhawks took an early punch from Kentucky and held the Wildcats at bay for the rest of the way in a 77-68 win Saturday at Rupp Arena. Jalen Wilson led the Jayhawks with 22 points and Kansas dominated Kentucky on the offensive glass to end the Wildcats' winning streak at four games and avenge last season's 80-62 home loss to the Wildcats.

The game was the marquee showdown of the final SEC/Big 12 Challenge, and it delivered with both teams playing well offensively in a battle of the sport's all-time winningest programs. Kentucky jumped out to an early 11-6 lead, but Kansas weathered the storm and never trailed again after the 9:35 mark of the first half. With the win, KU avoided its first-ever four-game losing streak under 20th-year coach Bill Self.

Oscar Tshiebwe led Kansas with 18 points and nine rebounds, but the Jayhawks negated his impact on the offensive glass by finishing with an 11-0 edge in second-chance points. Kentucky entered the game ranked No. 5 nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 14 while Kansas ranked No. 145 in the same category at 10.7 per game.

With the Jayhawks relying on an undersized center in KJ Adams Jr. and the Wildcats boasting one of the game's top rebounder in Tshiebwe, it seemed UK would have an obvious advantage on the glass. Instead, it was Kansas that dominated in that regard while picking up a much-needed victory. Adams finished with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting while Kevin McCullar Jr. played through injury to finish with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Jayhawks.

Wilson makes case for national player of year

This marked Wilson's 12th game of 20 or more points this season as the redshirt junior continued to make his case for national player of the year consideration. The 6-foot-8 forward made 9 of 18 shots from the floor and came up with huge shots in the second half as the Jayhawks answered every Kentucky run. After the Wildcats closed within 51-50 at the 11:55 mark, Wilson promptly drilled a 3-pointer. He then made all three of his shot attempts in the final seven minutes, including a dagger of a jump shot with 1:52 remaining that put KU ahead 75-68. 

Purdue center Zach Edey will be difficult to overcome in the national player of the year race, but Wilson continues to produce huge performances against quality opponents for a Kansas team with legitimate aspirations of repeating as national champions.

Kansas gets help from unexpected source

When KJ Adams left the game after picking up his second foul with 7:58 left in the first half, Kansas turned to backup center Zuby Ejiofor. But when Ejiofor left the game less than a minute later with an injury, it forced Self to go deeper into his bench than he likely expected. He turned to freshman center Ernest Udeh Jr., who entered averaging just 6.9 minutes in only 14 appearances this season. 

Udeh had appeared in just two games this month but he gave the Jayhawks 12 important minutes, matching his most time on the court in any game since mid-November. Kansas outscored Kentucky by six with Udeh on the floor as he finished with four points on 2-of-2 shooting and pulled down a couple of rebounds while brushing with Tshiebwe on the interior.

Poor shooting bites Kentucky

After a Quad 4 home loss to South Carolina on Jan. 10 dropped Kentucky to 1-3, the Wildcats clearly turned a corner during a four-game winning streak over the last two weeks. However, the Wildcats made just 25.7% of their 3-pointers during that stretch, and the run of poor outside shooting finally caught up with them against Kansas. 

Kentucky hit just 2 of 13 shots from beyond the arc with Cason Wallace responsible for both makes. CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves — a pair of transfers lauded for their perimeter shooting — combined to go 0 for 8 from deep. The poor shooting is a new development for the Wildcats, who made 35.4% of their 3-pointers as a team in the season's first 16 games. If Kentucky is going to put the Kansas loss behind it quickly and build off the progress it made since the loss to the Gamecocks, it will need to find better shooting from somewhere. Wallace is doing his part, but getting Reeves and Fredrick going is going to be essential to this team's long-term success.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 10:18 pm ET · David Cobb]

Kansas is icy

Big shots and answers every time Kentucky tries to make a run. Want to know why Bill Self didn't seem too worried amid his team's three-game losing streak? This is why. His team has kept a cool head all night in a hostile environment and is about to be rewarded with a huge victory. Kentucky hasn't played poorly, but the Jayhawks have had an answer for everything. Another huge night from Jalen Wilson has gotten this team back on track.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 10:06 pm ET · David Cobb]

Blown chance

Trailing 62-60, Kentucky forced a miss and had a fairly easy rebound that somehow Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler managed to flub. It results in two free throws for Gradey Dick as Kansas extends its lead to 4 and its edge in second-chance points to 11-0. Just a stunning lack of advantage on the boards for a Kentucky team that is normally great at rebounding.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:59 pm ET · David Cobb]

Arm's length

Kansas is managing to keep Kentucky at arm's length but the Wildcats are still right there at the u8 timeout trailing just 58-54. Free-throw shooting is popping up as an issue again. UK has been horrendous from the line in its losses this season and is just 10 of 17 tonight. Cason Wallace just hit a pair but Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware combined to go 0 for 4 in the first half, and those missed points are looming large in a game like this.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:49 pm ET · David Cobb]

Kansas stymies run

Rupp Arena got loud after a Cason Wallace 3-pointer brought the Wildcats within 51-50 at the 11:55 mark. But less than a minute later, the Kansas lead is back to 56-50 as the Jayhawks continue to answer Kentucky's runs. Jalen Wilson is up to 15 points and KJ Adams is at 13 (and notably still has just two fouls). Wildcats STILL don't have a single second-chance basket. 

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:44 pm ET · David Cobb]

Kevin McCullar back

Kansas wing Kevin McCullar has returned after appearing to walk off his injury. That's big for the Jayhawks, who are already without backup center Zuby Ejiofor. McCullar gives Kansas a lockdown perimeter defender and secondary shot-maker.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:35 pm ET · David Cobb]

Kentucky making a run

Kansas calls a timeout with 16:10 remaining as Kentucky cuts it to 47-43. Something to watch is that Kevin McCullar hobbled off the floor. He's the Jayhawks' top perimeter defender and it would be a blow if he can't return/ Oscar is into double digits for Kentucky, while KJ Adams is up to 11 for Kansas.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:28 pm ET · David Cobb]

Zuby Ejiofor out

Per ESPN broadcast, Kansas backup center Zuby Ejiofor will not return due to a rolled ankle. Should mean more minutes for Ernest Udeh, who played well after entering following foul trouble for KJ Adams and Ejiofor's injury. Udeh hasn't played much in recent weeks but he'll be asked to give the Jayhawks some more time tonight in a huge spot.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:24 pm ET · David Cobb]

Shooters could decide it

The teams were a combined 2 of 13 from beyond the arc in the first half with the only makes coming from an unlikely source in Dajuan Harris. CJ Fredrick is 0 for 2 and Gradey Dick is 0 for 3 from deep. Reeves and Wallace are also 0 for 1 each for UK. Whichever team can gets its shooters going is going to have an edge in the second half after a combined 50 points were scored in the paint during the first half.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:12 pm ET · David Cobb]

Halftime thoughts

Kentucky is 0 for 6 from beyond the arc and trailing 9-0 in second-chance points. This is surprising because the Wildcats rank No. 1 nationally in offensive rebounding percentage and are a decent 3-point shooting team in terms of percentage at 36.9%. Those stats seem like uncharacteristic anomalies that could get sorted out in the second half. But give Kansas credit for never blinking in a hostile atmosphere as the Wildcats started hot. Those early 3s from Dajuan Harris were huge, and the minutes from Ernest Udeh Jr. have been key.

[Jan 28, 2023 at 9:04 pm ET · David Cobb]

Stunning statistic

Kansas leads Kentucky 9-0 in second-chance points, which is rather stunning when you consider it's the Wildcats who have Oscar Tshiebwe in their starting lineup. Jayhawks doing an excellent job on the glass, and that's been the difference in the game here as UK trails despite shooting 53.8% from the floor.