Rapid Reaction: Kentucky manhandles No. 1 Tennessee in statement game for the young Wildcats
Saturday’s game between No. 1 Tennessee and No. 5 Kentucky lost a little bit of luster when the Wildcats fell at home to LSU on Tuesday night. However, Saturday’s action was still between two of the best teams in the country.
In Rupp Arena, though, only one team looked like an elite squad, and it was Kentucky. The Wildcats took a six-point lead into halftime and then exploded in the second half, coming out on fire and shutting down their foes.
The Wildcats were the more physical team all night, and it showed in the rebounding totals, as Kentucky held a 39-26 advantage in the rebounding category. That translated to an impressive 86-69 victory for the No. 5 team in the country.
Sometimes, the game of basketball is as simple as making shots, and the Vols were not making shots at all on Saturday. Even when they were getting open looks, shots were off the mark, often badly.
Meanwhile, in the paint, PJ Washington had another outstanding performance, outplaying reigning SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams. Washington finished an efficient 9-for-12 from the floor, scoring a game-high 23 points and grabbing five rebounds. Keldon Johnson (19 points), Tyler Herro (15 points) and Reid Travis (10 points) also scored in double figures and fellow starter Ashton Hagans had nine points and seven assists.
For the Vols, Williams did have a good night, scoring 16 points to go with eight boards, but it wasn’t enough to take down the Wildcats.
The Vols have to regroup quickly. After hosting Vanderbilt in the middle of the week, they travel down to Baton Rouge to take on the red-hot LSU Tigers. As for Kentucky, the Wildcats will head to Mizzou this week and then host Auburn in Lexington on Saturday.
The rematch between the Vols and Wildcats is set for March 2 in Knoxville. We’ll see if Rick Barnes can fix what went wrong this time around and do better on Tennessee’s home court in a couple of weeks.
Stage was set before the game started… All I’m gonna say. Nice fixer upper.
lol
Calls were rupparee calls but UT didn’t come to play.
complaining about the refs in a blowout, classic
You would have thought KY won the NC game after beating TN.. Love it!! Lot of basketball left to play cats.
It’s called rubbing it in yalls faces for the way ya’ll been acting. Next time try to be a bit more humble. WE know what success feels like, and trust me, this is FAR from our NC game, we actually won NC’s, ya’ll have not.
Good game KY. See you in a couple weeks at our home floor.
Maybe those swollen heads in Tennessee will come down a little bit. Just listening to some of the UT fans the past 2 weeks you would of thought they had already won it all.m
You would have thought SCjr won from that comment. Cats played well.
Huh?
UK was more physical and they figured out Trnn cut back pass. Don’t see Tenn winning in Knoxville either. UK youngest, UT oldest team.
They’ll split
Not taking nothing from tennessee they good team but not battled tested like the young CATS when you play easy schedule only 2 top 25 teams up till now you really don’t know how good or bad you are.ky has had one of toughest schedules in country and coming off a week were they just played 3 ranked teams in a week.to be the best you got to beat the best.don’t see tennessee winning at home either as long as ky comes to play.bad part for Tennessee this year is there only shot.not much young talent on bench like ky has.congrats to the gamecocks too they balling .coach Frank one of the best
We will see. For some reason UT is always doubted but that’s fine. Only second loss of year and sounds like we are worst team in sec?
People doubt teams without history or elite recruiting. They’re often, but not always, right to do so.
I’m a big UT fan. Have always loved UK also. Hats off to the Cats. They were more physical. This showed on the boards and in the way they played defense. They did not allow the Vols to penetrate the paint. Every shot UT took was contested. On the other hand, UK often had a lot of space for their shots. What does this amount to? UK was just tougher. They clearly wanted this more. It will be interesting to see if the Vols use this as a catalyst. Is this the wake up call that ups their game and intensity? Or, have they peaked? We’ll see, there is a lot of ball yet to be played.
Kentucky just played unbelievable basketball. The refs were allowing the teams to play and Kentucky took advantage of that. Tennessee was just a bit off, but I expect them to be much better next time.
I agree,KY is a great team who played there best game of the year, and honestly TN played one of there worst games. Hopefully TN will regroup and be ready for the final stretch.
When it got physical and the refs let them play Tenn folded. Kinda how the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons used to play and beat everybody.
I didn’t expect Tennessee to lay down like that
Something that’s never been said about your mom
The season is over for UT…. I mean they have 2 losses to top 5 teams AWAY from home… I mean if a team has losses to unranked teams that’s OK right?
If any of you think this is the end of this team of that was the real UT then you’re in for a rude awaking.
“I mean they have 2 losses to top 5 teams”. It should be noted that they have only played 3 ranked teams all year.
Having said that, I think they will be fine.
One in overtime on the road and the other against a conf rival on the road. Yea I think they will be fine. We can’t help it if all the other teams in the SEC SUCK!!!!
We just got manhandled. Beat in every phase of the game. Kentucky was prepped and ready. I think we were but just couldn’t stop the landslide. It is what happens when all those young future NBA stars come together at the same time. They would have beaten anyone last night. Will be interesting to see how Vols react to that a$$ whippin. I think and hope the maturity comes thru. Glad we have a warm up game before going to BR.
NBA stars?
Are you an NBA agent
You do realize that is why KY is so good don’t you SevenT?? You don’t have to be and NBA agent to figure that most of KY players will be in the NBA.
He’s a dumba$$ troll. Pay him no mind.
Vol
You were looking for a reaction with the NBA comment
Dumba$$
Fuzzy it’s a game, 1 GAME. When Duke lost to unranked Syracuse how many people acted like it was the end for Duke? It wasn’t the end for them and it dang sure isn’t the end for UT. They had a bad game and KY played the best they’ve played all year. Just wait and see what happens after these kids listen to all the “experts” call them overrated etc. Add to that just wait and see how far they drop UT after a loss following 19 wins.
Kentucky played their best game of the year last night and I fully see UT bring the fight to the CATS in Knoxville. Hopefully the CATS will continue their trend of playing well on the road (have played better away than at home)and meet the Vol challenge. UT better be ready for the tigers of LSU or they will learn like my CATS that they can hang a “L” on you that you weren’t expecting. Go CATS!!!