The Ohio State Buckeyes shocked the Kentucky Wildcats with a stunning 85-65 victory during the CBS Sports Classic, marking Kentucky's second loss of the season. The game, held at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2024, was expected to showcase the No. 4 ranked Wildcats, who came in with high hopes after winning three consecutive games.
For the Buckeyes, this win was especially noteworthy as they had suffered heavily just the prior week, losing to Auburn by over 30 points. They broke their losing streak on the big stage of Madison Square Garden, where they methodically took apart the Wildcats, who were unable to find their rhythm on either offense or defense.
“We were trying to find some juice, find some energy, find some fight,” Kentucky head coach Mark Pope said, succinctly summarizing his team’s struggle during the match. Kentucky, which shot at just 29.8 percent for the game, saw their offense stall badly, particularly from beyond the arc where they could only manage four successful three-point shots out of 22 attempts, underlining their poor shooting performance.
On the other hand, the Buckeyes capitalized on their offensive opportunities, shooting nearly 57 percent from the field and showcasing their ability to attack the rim— outscoring Kentucky 36-24 in the paint. Ohio State's Brian Thornton shined with a career-high of 30 points, embodying the Buckeyes' effective strategy to maintain high efficiency against the struggling Wildcats.
When assessing their performance, the Wildcats were merely outmatched. They fell behind early and struggled to bounce back, marking a significant disappointment for fans expecting to see another solid win. After the game, many were left wondering how such a talented roster could falter so dramatically. The Wildcats, now holding a 10-2 record, will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their upcoming game against Brown University on New Year’s Eve.
Special emphasis must be placed on Kentucky's three-point shooting woes. Their performance against Ohio State marked their lowest-efficiency game from three-point range this season, culminating to just 18.2 percent accuracy on the attempts. This stark deficiency places them at 96th nationally for three-point shooting, which is alarming as it constitutes the backbone of Pope's offensive scheme.
Conversely, the Buckeyes were able to convert their chances efficiently and withstand Kentucky’s brief moments of fight. Even when the Wildcats clawed back to close the gap to 6 points early in the second half, Thornton immediately hit back with a three-point steal to widen the margin once more.
Despite the positives of past victories, including wins against formidable opponents such as Duke and Gonzaga, this loss has raised eyebrows about the Wildcats’ readiness for the challenges of their Southeastern Conference (SEC) schedule. The upcoming matches, particularly against currently unbeaten Florida, could prove even more difficult if the Wildcats do not rectify their recent failures.
“We had a tough time finding the pace of the game,” added Pope, reflecting on the difficulty his team faced against the Ohio State defense. “They were comfortable holding the ball, and it was hard for us to manage.” This sentiment highlights the pressing need for Kentucky to evolve as they gear up for the meat of their season.
Going forward, it’s clear the Wildcats have significant work to do. Their performance against Ohio State serves as both a wake-up call and a pivotal moment for the season. Fortunately for the team, the upcoming break provides them time to reassess and adjust their strategy before entering SEC play.
With championship aspirations still alive but now under threat from stunning losses, it is imperative for the Wildcats to get back to the fundamentals—particularly their shooting techniques and defensive organization. The pressure is on them to prove they can come back stronger when they face Brown on December 31st, as their loyal fans will be eager to see improvement after such disappointment.
