Kentucky suffers worst losing streak in Rupp Arena history with upset loss to Gonzaga
Kentucky is still looking for answers after producing the worst home losing streak in Rupp Arena history.
Entering Saturday, the Wildcats had lost back-to-back games at home and were looking to find some answers against Gonzaga in a nonconference affair. Unfortunately, Kentucky fell behind early and could not deliver the key plays needed late.
After falling behind 42-32 at halftime, Kentucky rallied and had a chance to tie or take the lead inside 30 seconds to play. Unfortunately, Reed Sheppard (who led the Wildcats with 21 points) turned the ball over on a poor lob pass with Gonzaga holding on for the 89-85 win.
The loss by Kentucky gives the Wildcats 3 straight losses at home. The last time that unthinkable stretch happened came all the way back in 1966 — 10 years before Rupp Arena was opened. Now, Kentucky has a 3-game losing streak at home for the first time ever in Rupp Arena history.
DOWN GOES NO. 17 KENTUCKY ?@ZagMBB beats the Wildcats in Rupp Arena. That’s Kentucky’s third straight loss at home for the first time since 1966 — 10 years before Rupp Arena opened. pic.twitter.com/hWPg5hmAa2
— CBS Sports College Basketball ? (@CBSSportsCBB) February 10, 2024
The recent trend for Kentucky has not been positive, to say the least. The Wildcats are 2-4 in their last 6 games, and both wins have come on the road vs. Arkansas and Vanderbilt.
At home, Kentucky has lost to Florida, Tennessee and Gonzaga to fall to 16-7 overall and 6-4 in the SEC. The Wildcats are now 2.5 games behind South Carolina and Alabama, the conference’s leaders at 9-2 in SEC play.
Kentucky’s outlook for the NCAA Tournament is still secure at this point, but there’s no denying things are trending in the absolutely wrong direction for John Calipari’s program. Fans can track the latest NCAA Tournament odds and trends with SDS’s host of sports betting apps as the Wildcats try to get things figured out ahead of the SEC Tournament and March Madness.