Kentucky Sweeps Season Series with Win Over Tennessee -

Kentucky was facing long odds again against the Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday night in Lexington. They had gotten Lamont Butler back on Saturday, but Jaxson Robinson was listed on the availability report for that game with a wrist injury. It was already going to be a tough game, but it got even tougher when Robinson was ruled out on Monday night after aggravating that injury late in the South Carolina game.

Kentucky came out quickly, scoring six quick points, ignited by a Butler steal and layup to open the game. The rest of the half was more of what was expected—a close, hard-fought game. Kentucky would push the lead out to five, and then Tennessee would cut it back to one point or tie it until the final 5:39, when Kentucky started to take control of the game.

The run was started by a Travis Perry three-pointer. The run would ultimately reach 12-3 and included the Perry three, two Trent Noah threes, and a Brandon Garrison three to give the Cats their largest lead of the first half, 33-24. They would actually go up 35-24 and hold a 35-26 halftime lead, but after officials reviewed a goaltending call on Felix Okpara, it was changed to a clean block, and the Cats led 33-26 at the half.

It was another rough half on offense for the Volunteers against Kentucky. After shooting just 34.7% from the floor and 24.4% from three in their loss in Knoxville, Tennessee shot just 34.6% from the floor and failed to make any of their five three-point attempts. Kentucky has stepped up its defensive pressure and effort after a couple of lackluster performances dropped them to 102 in the KenPom efficiency ratings.

Kentucky didn’t shoot much better in the first half, but they were able to connect on 7-14 of their three-point attempts. In Robinson’s absence, Noah had his best game as a Wildcat. The freshman hit 3-4 three-point attempts for nine first-half points and also played really well on the defensive end.

The second half started out much differently on the offensive end of the floor, with the teams combining to start the half 15-18 from the floor. Tennessee started 8-9, but Kentucky was able to hold the three-point lead at the under-12 timeout due to knocking down three three-point shots and shooting 7-9 themselves.

Kentucky would hold the lead until 8:20 left, when Cade Phillips hit a couple of free throws to tie the game. Also around this time, Kentucky lost Butler after he re-aggravated his left shoulder injury that had kept him out for three games while diving for a loose ball on a steal attempt. Tennessee would end up taking a three-point lead, 58-55, but Ansley Almonor answered right back with an and-one basket to tie it back up. Zakai Zeigler would give Tennessee its final lead with a layup on the following possession, and that’s when Kentucky made its final run.

Kobe Brea, coming off his most complete game of the season, hit a step-back three to give Kentucky the lead for good. Amari Williams followed it with a bucket and a foul, although he missed the free throw. Noah then hit two free throws, and another Brea three put them up by six. The play of the night happened on the next offensive possession. With the shot clock running down, Brea was able to get into the paint for a no-look alley-oop to a cutting Otega Oweh for the exclamation point.

In the final 4:50 of game time, Kentucky went on a 20-5 run, similar to the run to end the first half but taken to another level. It was another great effort, shorthanded, against one of the best teams in the country.

Tennessee was, once again, unable to make shots. For the game, they shot 42.6% from the floor (23-54) and just 16.7% from three (3-18). Against Kentucky this season, Tennessee shot a combined 14-63 from three—just 22%. On the flip side, Kentucky shot 50% from the floor (26-52) and 50% from three (12-24). These were nearly identical numbers from the matchup in Knoxville, where Kentucky shot 50% from the floor (25-50) and also 50% from three (12-24). This is against the best three-point defense in the country and the top-rated defense by efficiency.

Just like in Knoxville, Tennessee was led by Igor Milicic. He had 16 points and nine rebounds (6-9 FGA, 3-4 from three). Joining him in double figures were Zeigler with 16 points and six assists (7-11 FGA, 0-2 from three) and Chaz Lanier with 10 points and six rebounds (3-13 FGA, 0-7 from three). In the two games, Lanier and Zeigler combined to go 4-30 from three against Kentucky.

Kentucky was sparked by a couple of surprising players, Trent Noah and Travis Perry. The two combined for 19 points—Noah had 11 points (3-4 from three, 2-2 FTs), and Perry chipped in eight (3-4 FGA, 2-3 from three). These were breakout games for a couple of players who will have to provide quality minutes down the stretch with the injuries to Robinson and Butler. Joining them to lead Kentucky were Almonor with 13 points (4-5 FGA, 2-3 from three), Oweh with 13 points and six rebounds (4-11 FGA, 4-6 FTs), and Brea with 11 points (4-9 FGA, 3-6 from three).

Kentucky travels to Austin on Saturday to take on a Longhorn team that has lost three in a row and will be looking to get back on track. Hopefully, Kentucky has all players available for the 8:00 PM tip on ESPN. If not, next man up.