The Kentucky Wildcats suffered a humiliating 85-65 defeat at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden. The game not only exposed glaring weaknesses in Kentucky’s game plan but also left fans reeling as the Wildcats fell apart on both ends of the court.
Ohio State came into the game with a clear strategy to neutralize Kentucky’s offensive strengths, and it worked to perfection. The Buckeyes played disciplined basketball, disrupting Kentucky’s rhythm and exposing their inability to generate consistent scoring opportunities. While Ohio State executed their game plan flawlessly, Kentucky struggled mightily to find any answers, resulting in one of the Wildcats’ worst performances this season.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The stats from the game paint a grim picture for Kentucky. The Wildcats shot a dismal 29.8% from the field, including a woeful 18.2% from beyond the arc (4-of-22). In contrast, Ohio State was lights out, shooting an impressive 56.6% overall. Although their three-point shooting wasn’t stellar (26.7%), it didn’t need to be—Ohio State dominated inside the arc, repeatedly scoring in the paint and breaking down Kentucky’s defense.
These kinds of shooting disparities are nearly impossible to overcome. Kentucky’s offensive struggles were exacerbated by their inability to hit even basic shots, including layups, as the team shot just 7-of-23 at the rim. While the Wildcats managed to get to the free-throw line often—going 27-for-32 from the stripe—it wasn’t enough to offset their field goal woes.
Big Blue Nation Reacts
Unsurprisingly, the performance sparked a wave of frustration among Kentucky fans, who took to social media to express their disappointment. Many voiced concerns about the Wildcats’ readiness for the grueling SEC schedule ahead, fearing that this lackluster showing could be a sign of deeper issues within the team.
We’re gonna get crushed when we play teams like Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, and Alabama
— Alex Stevenson (@astevenson_12) December 22, 2024
I'm of the opinion that's a really bad loss. Neutral site, very experienced team, a week off, playing at MSG. Ohio State had wilted against almost every other good team they've faced. Just a worst case night on offense and defense tonight.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 22, 2024
That was a complete breakdown in all facets for Kentucky tonight. Pretty disappointing
Postgame Show around 9:25 pm
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 22, 2024
Absolutely embarrassing
— Lori Mills (@lori_mills) December 22, 2024
Adding insult to injury, Kentucky’s next game is over 10 days away, leaving fans to stew in the aftermath of this crushing defeat. While some fans tried to find a silver lining, even suggesting that Ohio State’s strong performance could elevate the loss into the quad-1 category for NET rankings, most saw it for what it was: an embarrassing blow to the Wildcats’ confidence and momentum.
and we get to suck on this one for 10 days
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) December 22, 2024
Wins over Duke and Gonzaga
Losses to Clemson and Ohio StateNot the way I would have predicted it, but still only two non conference losses with SEC play about to begin.
— Lee K. Howard ☀️ (@HowardWKYT) December 22, 2024
Currently this will be a quad 1 loss for Kentucky. If Ohio State falls out of the top 50 in NET that will change. This loss definitely hurts, especially how they played but being a quad 1 loss will help it not kill the Cats in the metrics.
— Big Blue Express (@bigbluexpress) December 22, 2024
A Brutal Reality Check
This loss also highlighted some troubling trends for Kentucky. Ohio State, while undeniably talented, hadn’t played their best basketball against other strong opponents this season. Yet against Kentucky, they looked unstoppable. The Buckeyes dominated the paint, scoring 36 points inside, and disrupted Kentucky’s offensive flow at every turn.
Kentucky’s inability to respond effectively raises questions about their readiness for high-stakes matchups. While the loss could eventually be framed as a quad-1 defeat depending on how Ohio State’s season unfolds, it’s little consolation for a Wildcats team that came into the season with lofty expectations.
Time to Regroup
With over a week until their next game, the Wildcats have time to reflect and regroup, but that break may feel agonizing for fans eager to see a strong response. The team must address their shooting woes and find ways to generate better scoring opportunities if they hope to compete at the highest level during SEC play.
As frustrating as this loss was, it can also serve as a wake-up call for Kentucky. Whether they use it to fuel their improvement or let it define their season remains to be seen. For now, Big Blue Nation can only hope their team comes out of the holiday break ready to prove themselves once again.
