Tennessee owns Kentucky… in basketball.
The Wildcats made only four shots in the final 12 minutes of Saturday night’s game at Rupp Arena to blow a 10-point second half lead and lose 82-71 to the Volunteers, Tennessee’s sixth win over UK in the last nine meetings. The Vols had to overcome double-digit second half deficits in five of those six Tennessee wins. It’s the first time Tennessee has won consecutive games in Lexington since 1976-77.
Disgusting.
That wasn’t a one-word sentence used for effect. It’s the actual taste that will be left in my mouth for days to come after another heartbreaking performance from the Wildcats. I’m sure I will not be the only person in the Big Blue Nation disturbed by the loss.
Kentucky dropped to 5-12 Saturday night, the worst 17-game start in school history. You would think after 11 of these we would know what to expect by now, but tonight things felt different for 30 minutes. John Calipari’s Cats looked like a team that was flipping the switch, prepared to put the nation’s No. 11 team in the rearview mirror. That’s exactly why this familiar feeling is even worse than the previous 11 losses.
Keion Brooks’ Big Night
Expectations were high for sophomore from Fort Wayne after ending the 2020 season with an incredible performance at Florida. Those expectations vanished once a leg injury prevented Brooks from playing until the Wildcats returned to Gainesville Jan. 7. Tonight he looked like the best player on a Top 25-caliber team.
Brooks could not be contained. He was crafty in the lane, using pump fakes to create space and hit midrange jumpers, while also playing physical and finishing strong near the rim. He finished the night with 23 points and 11 rebounds, setting new career-highs in each category. There was only one problem: almost all of that production happened in the first 30 minutes of the game.
Foul Trouble for Fulky
John Fulkerson became a bonafide Tennessee villain last year when he scored 27 points in another second half come from behind victory over Kentucky. After chopping off his floppy locks, he did absolutely nothing Saturday night at Rupp. Fulkerson and Santiago Vescovi, another guy who loves to play well against UK, combined to play just ten minutes in the first half thanks to foul trouble. While they sat on the bench, Kentucky took advantage of their absence by knocking down free throws and attacking inside.
Fantastic First Half
Brooks’ exceptional play and the rampant Tennessee foul trouble (15 team fouls in the first half) created the perfect storm for Kentucky to jump out to a big lead. The Wildcats turned 11 Tennessee turnovers into nine fast break points, while committing just two turnovers and knocking down 13-of-15 free throw attempts. Kentucky led 42-34 at the break. It was the most points surrendered in a first half by the nation’s No. 1 defense all season.
The Final Good Thing
With this Kentucky team, all good things must come to an end. Before the train ran off the tracks, Davion Mintz made one of the most impressive plays of the season. Even with an off hand in his midsection, Mintz rose up and DENIED Keon Johnson at the rim. It was the kind of play that makes you ask, “How did he do that?”
Nah. Nope. @deemintz1 isn't having it. #SCtop10
? @espn – https://t.co/V9WbB1xCm3 pic.twitter.com/OdCwTDJhKF
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 7, 2021
Incomprehensible Disaster
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
We fell for it, then the old Kentucky we’ve come to know showed up with 12 minutes to play. The Wildcats built up a 10-point lead thanks to three straight buckets by Brooks. Once B.J. Boston hit a shot to cap off an 8-2 run, everything fell apart.
Tennessee turned the game upside down, starting with a 26-6 run. In totality, Kentucky only hit four shots in the final 12 minutes and was out-scored by the Vols 34-13. Kentucky’s final four-minute problem was a full 12-minute disaster.
As is typical, the epicenter of Kentucky’s downfall were turnovers and missed shots, basic stuff. The missed shots speak for themselves. As for the turnovers, after only committing two in the first half, they gave Tennessee the ball 11 times in the second half.
While Calipari’s young team struggled, Rick Barnes’ freshmen scored at will. Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson combined for 40 points on 54.5% shooting from the field.
Make it Stop
This is not a good Kentucky basketball team. Folks around the BBN have known this for awhile. Even after accepting that this is the worst UK basketball team of my lifetime, I still find myself in a fit of rage.
We have seen this script almost exactly played out a dozen times before — Kentucky doesn’t start well, fights hard, gets a lead, has a chance to win then wilts down the stretch — yet this loss to Tennessee is still a rage-inducing nightmare. The Cats were ready to put the game in cruise control, then a switch was flipped and they completely forgot how to play the game of basketball!
It’s one thing to fall apart against a Top 25 Missouri team. It’s exponentially more disheartening when it happens against Tennessee, a program that has won more games against Kentucky than any other, yet has only advanced past the Sweet 16 ones in its entire history. They are a joke and somehow we are still the clowns.
I’ll give Kentucky credit where credit is due. After 11 losses I thought I couldn’t be hurt again. Saturday night against Tennessee the Wildcats found a new way to break my heart.
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February 07, 2021 at 12:55PM
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RECAP: Kentucky Blows 10-Point Second Half Lead to Lose to Tennessee, Again - kentuckysportsradio.com
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