Kentucky's Denzel Aberdeen Shines in Win Over South Carolina

Point guard's efficient performance helps Wildcats overcome turnover issues

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Kentucky point guard Denzel Aberdeen had a standout game in the Wildcats' 72-63 win over South Carolina, scoring a team-high 19 points and dishing out 5 assists without a single turnover. Head coach Mark Pope praised Aberdeen's performance, saying he "bailed us out" and was "terrific" on both ends of the floor.

Why it matters

With star point guard Jaland Lowe out for the season due to injury, Aberdeen has stepped up as Kentucky's full-time floor general. His efficient play against South Carolina was crucial, as the Wildcats struggled with turnovers throughout the game. Aberdeen's performance could be a sign that he is settling into the starting point guard role and providing steady leadership for Kentucky as they make a push for postseason play.

The details

Aberdeen hit four 3-pointers in the first half, including a big shot that put Kentucky up 16-15 and sparked a 13-0 run. He finished the game with 19 points on efficient 4-of-7 shooting, along with 5 assists and 0 turnovers. Pope praised Aberdeen's all-around play, saying he was "terrific shot-making" and "really, really solid defensively for the whole night."

  • Kentucky played South Carolina on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Denzel Aberdeen

Kentucky's starting point guard who stepped up with a standout performance against South Carolina.

Jaland Lowe

Kentucky's former starting point guard who suffered a season-ending injury, opening the door for Aberdeen to take over the role.

Mark Pope

Kentucky's head coach who praised Aberdeen's efficient and impactful play in the win over South Carolina.

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What they’re saying

“We kind of felt as a staff that (Denzel Aberdeen) was due. He was just due for a game. He's just been a little quieter, and he actually bailed us out (against South Carolina). He was terrific shot-making. He was really, really solid defensively for the whole night. He had a terrific game. Zero turnovers for Zel in a game with a lot of turnovers. He's been--it's like clockwork. For him to be a five-zero (assist-to-turnovers) in a little bit of a messy game, a little bit of a different energy game, like I said, it was important. His line is just really, really impressive, and he continues to grow into this point guard role. We're proud of him. We need him.”

— Mark Pope, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

Kentucky has three regular season games remaining as they look to improve their SEC tournament seeding and make a push for the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats will need continued strong play from Denzel Aberdeen to help offset their turnover issues and provide steady leadership at the point guard position.

The takeaway

Denzel Aberdeen's efficient and impactful performance against South Carolina was a much-needed boost for Kentucky as they navigate the latter part of their SEC schedule. With the season-ending injury to star point guard Jaland Lowe, Aberdeen has stepped up and shown he can be a reliable floor general for the Wildcats, providing hope that they can make a postseason run despite their up-and-down season.