The Kentucky Wildcats were walloped by the Alabama Crimson Tide on Friday night in Nashville by a score of 99-70, knocking the Cats out of the SEC Tournament.

Both teams started out slow, but it didn’t last. Alabama really hit its stride, and as bad as Kentucky seemingly played, they kept the score close. At the half, the Cats trailed 45-38.

After the break, Kentucky got embarrassed. Plain and simple. It was an ugly showing in what was Kentucky’s biggest margin of defeat this season.

Next up, we’ll see if Mark Pope can help Kentucky advance to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Here’s what you need to know from this one.

Travis Perry remains a liability

Travis Perry has played beyond expectations in his freshmen season, but that doesn’t mean he’s earned the minutes he’s getting.

Perry is an absolute liability. He’s horrific on the defensive end and, frankly, he’s just as bad on the offensive end unless he’s hitting 3s, which isn’t often. I know Lamont Butler is out, but Mark Pope could go with just about anyone else and be better off.

The Kentucky native may be solid in a few years, but he’s the worst player on the court at all times when he’s in. It hurts me to say this because I want to see the Kentucky guys succeed, but it’s hard to see Perry contributing in a big way anytime soon. Better to find it out now, I guess.

The talent gap is real

There’s one real difference between UK and Alabama, and it’s simple. The talent gap is huge.

Nate Oats turned down interest from Kentucky to stay with the Crimson Tide, and that decision looks really smart. He’s got a top-five team and Pope clearly does not. The difference in talent is night and day, as you can see by the three-game season sweep. Oats owns Kentucky at this point and that’s just the reality of it.

Alabama is simply better than UK at playing the same game.

Carr shows up

While Kentucky struggled, big-game Andrew Carr showed up again, and that’s something the Cats have to get to win any NCAA Tournament games.

Carr defended at a high level, he scored down low, and he shot with confidence. What more can you ask? The answer is nothing.

Carr has been an enigma this season, but when he’s healthy, he’s been the X-factor. If he can continue playing like this, Kentucky will have a real shot to make the second weekend of the Big Dance.