Aaron Harrison was all smiles while doing the “Y” at the UK-Indiana game. He believes UK has what it takes to make a postseason run this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Aaron Harrison played in 79 games in his two seasons at Kentucky. The Cats lost to Connecticut in the 2014 national championship game and were 38-0 when they lost to Wisconsin in the 2015 national semifinals. He had 979 points, 218 rebounds, 129 assists, 86 steals, and 18 blocked shots in two seasons. Harrison was a career 41 percent shooter from the field and a 33 percent shooter from 3. He also got to the foul line 277 times in two years and made 78.7 percent of his free throws.
Kentucky finished his freshman season 29-11 and only 12-6 in SEC play. The Cats lost three of their final four regular-season games, including a 19-point blowout at Florida to end regular-season play, before winning five straight games in NCAA play as a No. 8 seed.
Even though the recruitment of him and his twin brother, Andrew, created a huge buzz with Big Blue fans as did their decisions to return for a second season at UK, Aaron Harrison had not been back to Rupp Arena for a UK game since 2015 before he was in Rupp Arena to watch the Cats beat Indiana a few hours after he was in Memorial Coliseum watching UK volleyball sweep Creighton to reach the Final Four.
“The whole day was super fun, said Harrison, who also put on a youth clinic for the Police Activities League. I got to enjoy the volleyball game and then see a game in Rupp Arena for the first time since I actually went to school at UK. It was super loud in there for basketball, just like the support was for volleyball going to the Final Four.”
Harrison had played at Rupp Arena in The TBT in 2024, but he was glad to be back for the renewal of the UK-Indiana rivalry won by the Cats.
“I can’t really explain the fans here. They’re just incredible, and I love coming back here,” he said.
He got a rousing ovation when UK cheerleaders brought him out to be the “Y” during the second half.
“I found that out at halftime. It was kind of last minute, but it was cool. The fans here, they show us the love for sure. I wasn’t surprised they cheered. They have supported me online and supported me everywhere I have been. Everywhere I do, there’s someone from Kentucky. It’s the best fan base in the world,” Harrison said.
Harrison, who was also part of a toy drive for Jarrett’s Joy Cart before the volleyball and basketball games, wanted to see the UK-Indiana game to see how the team would react to recent adversity/criticism. Fans had high expectations for the Cats in his freshman season, but the team just did not play consistently well until postseason play began.
“I could really relate to this team just being in a situation where your back is against the wall. Everyone is saying that you need this, you need that, and we got to change this or change that. Everyone’s saying it and you hear it,” the former UK star said. “Everyone is saying this team could play harder. It’s interesting because I definitely know how that feels.
“I can still see us making a (postseason) run with the type of fight we had against Indiana. I think we can build off that and just keep playing with more confidence.”
10 Responses
It all starts or stops with the Bama game. If we leave with a win, we could make a run at getting back in the top 10 again. If we get spanked like we did against Gonzaga, can you say NIT? The effort that we put forth against Bellarmine will have us eating alphabet soup. Let's bag an elephant instead and hang its head on the wall at Wildcat Lodge!
Barry you will eat your words again like you did St Johns game. Always so negative about the cats regardless. The game has change were not going to dominate like we once did back in the days that we grew up with.
The players who caroused the night before the absolute pathetic play vs the Zags should be long gone & sent out of the state for KY! Likewise for the bums who caroused the night before the game in NYC. Add to the list the players squabbling about sleeping with someone who obviously is it too selective should also be sent packing. So somewhere from 2 to 6 players have caused any possible team chemistry to be destroyed because they do not care at all about UK on their jersey. Just picking portal jumpers to fill the roster will never put together a great UK TEAM!! Some of those just jump like a rabbit from portal to portal. Until this nonsense is stopped, UK BB will never be a real top level contender.
JQ, Lowe and the top ANE values performers are the answer – Moreno, Noah, Chandler, Dioubate, Garrison are at the top. Give Wills a chance to prove he can be a complete player and let Oweh know he is at the low end of TEAM play, and see where UK can go.
Last season, UK went 13-11 after a strong start when the players listened to the coaches. Then they went off on their own. This season, they only played one solid TEAM game (vs Purdue) and quickly became a GROUP (not team) of individuals.
JQ & Lowe have the skills to lead solid UK FIRST players to the FF. Any other combination will play 0.500 ball the east of the season, just like last season.
79, I am not sorry that my opinion contradicts your opinion that nothing negative should ever be said about Kentucky. My opinion may not always be right and it will almost NEVER be in agreement with yours, but I have the right to voice it just the same. You go on and voice your differing opinion and it doesn't matter who is right or wrong. These are just opinions until someone crosses the line to tell others not to voice their opinion or that they will be sorry for doing so. I am guessing that you are an adult. You need to start acting like one and be respectful of differing opinions. This is America, not China or Russia.
It's okay Barry no one is saying you don't have the entitled of what you think. I give out my opinion in a respectful matter what you like it or not.
79, you not only give opinions concerning the article or the topic, you criticize the person giving their opinion when it doesn't agree with yours. You and Jimmy are the only two who do that. Now I see why you don't make these posts using your real name.
It's all good Barry and I'll leave at that.
I am not so sure that we are living in Russia
I hate to say it but it needs to be said because this time it's more true than ever. We are a year away from being a great team. I would get Lowe the surgery have him redshirt. Start Johnson and have Aberdeen as the backup similar to what Florida did last year. I would start Johnson/Oweh/Mo-D/JQ/Moreno and just have them bulldoze the competition. Nobody would be able to score or rebound on us. My backups would be game situation depending on what we need for that game whether it be defense or shooting. I would play that 5 for as much together as possible so they can gel. That is the starters that are going to wear the other team down with there defense. Then you have Chandler, Aberdeen, Noah, Williams, Jelavic, and Garrison come in depending on what kind of lineup you need. We are a year away from having a great team let me just say that. We will be even better in 26-27 and I think Pope reaches the top in 26-27 or 27-28. He has the right nucleus these guys just need a little more time then what we are used to seeing with Calapari. Pope isn't getting the one and dones. Tho he does chase them he is getting the right guys who will eventually be very very good college players. Johnson, Moreno, Chandler, Noah, Hawthorne, Jelavic, Potter(who I think would be the second best center on the team behind Moreno) and Williams are all freshman and sophomores. Next season we will be unstoppable. We are only losing Oweh, Aberdeen, and JQ. Everyone else will be back. That's 11 guys who could be back next year all a year better. There might be 2-3 guys transfer. I only see 2 possibly 3. That's 8-9 guys back. Add two experienced point guards who are true leaders. Get the best one you can from a power 4 school. Then grab the best from a smaller school maybe the best 2 from smaller schools with Lowe. With Mo-D, Potter, Williams, Moreno, and Jelavic we have plenty of weapons down low who will only get better. Then we have Hawthorne, Williams, and Noah as the wings. With Chandler and Johnson as the guards. All we need is 2-3 good Point guards and we are set for next year. If we can sign the top point guard from high school and the best in the portal we will be cooking with grease. Last year Pope didn't have any time to recruit he threw a team together. This year he had time but it's his first year having time. Once those first two recruiting classes start to mature, his third and fourth teams will be special. I've said this for a long time. His first year we kinda got lucky with the extra year for everyone. This year he had have guys ready for this year and beyond. Every year after this should get easier and easier for him. 26-27 will be a final 4 or better and 27-28 will be a championship or bust kinda year. This year anything can happen. As of right now I think we will be lucky to make it to the sweet 16. That can change if we get a lineup that gels and we can start hitting some layups. Notice I didn't say threes. This isn't a 3 point shooting team we will never win that way. We have good defense and good rim protection now. Also elite rebounding. We need to get the ball to the paint and get more offensive rebounds. That's how this team will win. We only have 2-3 good 3 point shooters and a couple average. Noah Williams and Chandler are the best shooters on the team. Only problem is none of them can create there own shot. They always shoot good against the weaker teams. Because they are 5 inches taller at each position. Our bread and butter will be old fashioned basketball. Feed the post get rebounds play defense and find your shooters when they are hitting.
Some solid comments.
Barry called out some things.
Terry nailed a lot of good points.
Only 3 good shooters from 3. Could use another one this season, but he was essentially shown the exit with minimal minutes. Travis Perry started slow this season but has started 4 of 5 games in Dec and has recovered his shooting eye hitting 7-14 from 3 the last 2 games. UK could use that kind of shooting instead of those who seldom hit a 3.
Some (especially a very few) will always spout negative comments and hatred toward Perry, but he wore the UK jersey with honor and not like a lot who could care less about UK.
In his last 2 games, he is 7-14 from 3 and
had a 4:2 A:TO & SIX steals!
He has started to display his skills with confidence as shown in his most recent game.
21 pts in 33 min Dec 21
FG 7-13 @ 53.8%
3 Pt 5-11 @ 45.4%
FT 2-2 @ 100%
A:TO 2:2
Steals 4
(A+St+Blk):TO 6:2
#1 for Ole Miss in Pts, Mins,
3’s, Steals & Tied for 2nd in A
The game before that he was very efficient!
7 pts in 23 min Dec 17
FG 2-3 @ 67%
3 Pt 2-3 @ 67%
A:TO 2:0
Steals 2
(A+St+Blk):TO 4:0
It would be great to see screens set for Noah, Chandler & Williams at the 3-line. The film of Travis Ford getting screens for his 3’s would be helpful for the UK staff & players.
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