Kentucky Fans Longing for a Holiday Victory
“All I want for Christmas is a Kentucky win.” If you’ve been to a Wildcats game near Christmas, you’ve probably seen that familiar plea on a homemade sign held by an eager young fan. Unfortunately, that wish has been far from a guarantee over the past decade.
Kentucky basketball, renowned for its dominance, has had a surprising streak of misfortune in games leading up to Christmas. For fans, the holiday season has often been more of a “Grinchmas” than a celebration of basketball victories. Over the past ten years, the Wildcats hold a lackluster 4-6 record in their final games before Christmas break, with only one of those wins coming against a top-tier opponent.
A History of Pre-Christmas Struggles
Here’s a recap of Kentucky’s pre-Christmas games over the last decade:
- 2024: Ohio State 85, No. 4 Kentucky 65
- 2023: No. 9 Kentucky 95, Louisville 76
- 2022: No. 19 Kentucky 88, Florida A&M 68
- 2021: No. 20 Kentucky 95, WKU 60
- 2020: No. 22 North Carolina 75, Kentucky 63
- 2019: No. 5 Ohio State 71, No. 6 Kentucky 65
- 2018: No. 19 Kentucky 80, No. 9 North Carolina 72
- 2017: UCLA 83, No. 7 Kentucky 75
- 2016: No. 10 Louisville 73, No. 7 Kentucky 70
- 2015: Ohio State 73, No. 4 Kentucky 67
For those keeping count, that’s three losses to Ohio State in December, all while Kentucky was ranked in the top 10. Even worse, two of those Buckeye teams were unranked. It’s a trend that’s left a sour taste in the mouths of Big Blue Nation during what should be a festive time of year.
The Game That Defined a Nightmare Season
The 2020 loss to North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic stands out as particularly dreadful. Kentucky, in the midst of a historically bad season, suffered its fifth consecutive defeat in a blowout. To make matters worse, the team sent an injured Keion Brooks—who didn’t even play in the game—to face the media afterward. That moment encapsulated the despair of a season that would see Kentucky finish with just nine wins.
Bright Spots in a Dim Record
Not all the pre-Christmas games have been gloom and doom. Kentucky has had some memorable moments in recent years. In 2023, Rob Dillingham dazzled with a windmill dunk against Louisville, energizing fans and securing a dominant 95-76 win. In 2021, Oscar Tshiebwe set a Rupp Arena record for rebounds in a single game during a decisive victory over WKU.
These highlights serve as rare gifts for fans during a time of year when victories have been harder to come by.
A Blue Christmas Tradition
For a program steeped in tradition, Kentucky’s holiday blues have become an unfortunate pattern. Pre-Christmas games often come against tough opponents, and the timing—amid academic and holiday distractions—may contribute to the inconsistency. Yet, while these December losses sting, they pale in comparison to what truly matters: success in March.
If given the choice, most fans would happily trade a holiday victory for deeper runs in the NCAA tournament. After all, banners aren’t hung for pre-Christmas wins.
So while the Wildcats may not always deliver a joyous holiday season, the hope remains that Kentucky will give Big Blue Nation the ultimate gift—a return to championship glory. Until then, fans will just have to hold out for a brighter New Year.
