Kentucky Survives Scare from South Carolina

Coach Mark Pope relieved to end 3-game losing streak with narrow victory

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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In a tightly contested game, the Kentucky Wildcats narrowly defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 72-63 to snap a 3-game losing streak. Head coach Mark Pope, who was fined $25,000 earlier in the day for comments made after the Auburn game, sounded relieved to get the win despite his team's poor play, saying the 'pressure is ever-present' and that his players were just happy to come away with a victory.

Why it matters

Kentucky had been fighting for a top spot in the SEC standings but had fallen into an NCAA Tournament bubble position after 3 straight losses. This win, while not pretty, helps stabilize their season and keeps their tournament hopes alive heading into a tough final stretch of games.

The details

Kentucky struggled throughout the game against a scrappy South Carolina team, but were able to pull out the 72-63 victory in the final minutes. The Wildcats had lost 3 straight games prior to this, including tough losses to Georgia and Auburn that they likely should have won.

  • The game was played on February 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.
  • Earlier in the day, news broke that Kentucky head coach Mark Pope had been fined $25,000 for comments made after the Auburn game on Saturday.

The players

Mark Pope

The head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team.

Kentucky Wildcats

The men's basketball team from the University of Kentucky.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The men's basketball team from the University of South Carolina.

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What they’re saying

“No, there's pressure if you've won 3 in a row. The pressure is ever-present; it's such a privilege…I do think there is an emotional toll on our guys…We spent more time trying to purge ourselves…than x's and o's. Its important right now, our guys are happy, and they should be happy.”

— Mark Pope, Head Coach, Kentucky Wildcats (wildcatbluenation.com)

What’s next

Kentucky faces a tough remaining schedule, including games against Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Florida. This win helps take some pressure off the team as they try to secure an NCAA Tournament bid.

The takeaway

Despite the struggles and pressure, Kentucky was able to grind out a much-needed win against South Carolina. Head coach Mark Pope sounded relieved to get the victory, knowing his team still has work to do to solidify their tournament standing in the final weeks of the season.