In his first season on the job, Mark Pope leads the Kentucky Wildcats back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years. Koby Brea was the offensive star of the night.
In Mark Pope’s first season as head coach, the Kentucky Wildcats are returning to the Sweet 16 after a six-year absence. Click here to learn more:
For the first time since 2019, the Cats’ 84-75 victory over Illinois at the Fiserv Forum on Sunday night silenced a Milwaukee crowd made up primarily of Illini supporters and guaranteed UK a spot in the second week of the NCAA Tournament.
Pope had won his first March Madness game as head coach two nights prior. The former Kentucky player received his second on Sunday. The Wildcats’ offensive standout of the evening was Koby Brea.
Brea scored 23 points in the end. He was the main component of Kentucky’s offensive offensive surge after halftime, making five straight shots during one stretch in the second half and scoring eight points in 59 seconds.
Brea scored 23 points in the end. He was the main component of Kentucky’s offensive offensive surge after halftime, making five straight shots during one stretch in the second half and scoring eight points in 59 seconds.
Lamont Butler finished with 14 points and was a threat on defense in Friday night’s victory over Troy, despite going scoreless. He had five assists as well. Otega Oweh made the first basket of the second half and finished with 15 points, making three free throws in the last 19 seconds to increase Kentucky’s advantage after missing the majority of the first half due to foul trouble.
