Kentucky Wildcats Seek Player Breakouts to Turn Season Around

Injuries have tested Kentucky's depth, and the Wildcats need more scoring options to emerge.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Kentucky Wildcats are in the midst of a three-game losing streak late in the season, and head coach Mark Pope is looking for players to step up and provide a spark as the team faces a tough remaining schedule. With key injuries sidelining several players, the Wildcats' scoring has been heavily reliant on just three players - Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, and Denzel Aberdeen. Pope is hoping that freshmen Jasper Johnson, Andrija Jelavic, and Trent Noah can emerge as additional scoring threats to help turn the team's fortunes around.

Why it matters

Kentucky is a perennial powerhouse in college basketball, and this season's struggles have been uncharacteristic. If the Wildcats can get more balanced scoring and production from role players, it could provide the boost they need to make a strong postseason push. The development of younger talent is also crucial for the program's long-term success.

The details

Jasper Johnson has shown offensive potential but has been inconsistent, and Pope needs him to become a reliable spark plug off the bench. Andrija Jelavic has flashed his talent in spurts but needs to put it all together more consistently. Trent Noah, a Kentucky native, is the team's best pure shooter but has struggled to get shots up, and increased confidence and aggression from him could provide a valuable scoring lift.

  • The Wildcats have four games left in the regular season, including tough matchups against Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Florida.
  • Kentucky is dealing with injuries to key players Kam Williams, Jayden Quaintance, and Jaland Lowe, testing the team's depth.

The players

Jasper Johnson

A freshman guard with significant offensive upside who has struggled with consistency this season and needs to become a reliable scoring threat off the bench for the Wildcats.

Andrija Jelavic

A starting forward who has shown flashes of his potential but needs to put it all together more consistently to provide a fourth elite scoring option for Kentucky.

Trent Noah

A Kentucky native and the team's best pure shooter, who needs to increase his confidence and aggression to take more shots and provide a valuable scoring boost.

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What they’re saying

“Jasper Johnson has struggled of late for this team, and even when he has been good, the freshman guard has been inconsistent. Johnson needs to be a sparkplug for the Wildcats off of the bench, and so far, this season, he hasn't been that guy all that often.”

— Jasper Johnson (SI.com)

“Andrija Jelavic has been starting for the Wildcats of late, and in some games, he looks incredible, then in others, he makes a lot of mistakes. One thing that is clear, watching Jelavic, is that he will be a really good player in college basketball. He is so close to putting it all together, and once he does, he will be the fourth elite scorer on this team.”

— Andrija Jelavic (SI.com)

“Trent Noah has been really good for the Wildcats on the glass, and he is a player who is never not hustling. Noah is the best pure shooter on this team, but he hasn't been able to get a lot of threes up this season. Kentucky fans need to see some more consistent scoring, and if Noah could get hot from three, it would be helpful to this ball club.”

— Trent Noah (SI.com)

What’s next

The Wildcats will need to find a way to win at least two of their remaining four regular-season games against Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Florida in order to build momentum heading into the postseason.

The takeaway

Kentucky's struggles this season have highlighted the need for the team to develop more scoring options beyond their top three players. If young talents like Jasper Johnson, Andrija Jelavic, and Trent Noah can step up and provide consistent production, it could be the key to the Wildcats turning their season around and making a strong postseason push.