UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
TENNESSEE AT KENTUCKY
RUPP ARENA | LEXINGTON, KY.
FEB. 6, 2018
ATTENDANCE: 23,332
Final Score: #15/14 Tennessee 61, #24/24 Kentucky 59
Team Records and Series Notes
- Kentucky is 17-7 overall and 6-5 in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee is 18-5, 8-3 in league play.
- Kentucky leads the series 153-71, including 92-17 in Lexington.
- Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky plays Saturday at Texas A&M. Game time is 8:15 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST in College Station) and it will be televised by ESPN.
In the First Half
- Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, PJ Washington, Kevin Knox and Nick Richards for the 10th time this season. UK is 6-4 with this lineup.
- Kentucky extended its streak of 1,037 consecutive games with a 3-pointer when Quade Green connected with 16:10 on the clock.
- It was UK’s only field goal of the first nine minutes of the game, but made foul shots and energetic defense kept the Wildcats in the contest.
- UK’s next basket also was a 3-pointer by Green and puts the Cats ahead 11-9 at the 10:46 mark.
- UK’s first two-point field goal of the game was a dunk by Vanderbilt with 5:09 on the clock.
- After making just two of the first 14 shots, Vanderbilt’s dunk began a streak of four straight made field goals.
- Tennessee got hot late in the half and went to intermission ahead 27-26.
- Green led the Wildcats with 10 points, the fourth time this season he has been at double figures in the first half.
- UK is 6-5 this season when behind or tied at halftime. This was UK’s fourth straight game to trail at halftime.
In the Second Half
- Tied at 46, Tennessee went on a 4-0 run to lead 50-46.
- It was the only time in the entire game that either team led by more than three points.
- Kentucky responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a Knox steal and driving basket-and-one, to put the Cats back ahead 53-50.
- Tied at 56, Gilgeous-Alexander worked his way into the lane and swished a jumper with 1:28 left.
- Tennessee came back with a 3-pointer by Lamonte Turner and a breakaway dunk by Admiral Schofield to go ahead 61-58.
- Tennessee fouled with 1.3 seconds left. Gilgeous-Alexander made the first but Tennessee claimed the rebound on the second to hold on to the 61-59 win.
Team Notes
- UK is now 3-2 this season in games decided by three points or less.
- Tennessee shot 23.8 percent from three-point range today, 5 of 21. UK entered the game third in the nation in 3-point defense at 28.9 percent.
- UK is 42-10 in “bounce back” games (following losses) under Coach John Calipari.
- UK is 51-25 under Calipari in games vs. opponents in The Associated Press top 25.
- Kentucky is 150-6 under Calipari when limiting the opponent to 63 or fewer points.
- UK had not lost when holding the opponent to 63 or less since the 2014 NCAA championship game vs. Connecticut.
- Over the last four seasons, the Wildcats had won 60 in a row when keeping the opponent to 63 or less.
Player Notes
-
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander totaled 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.
- Alexander has averaged 20 points over the last three games.
- His six rebounds is one shy of his career high.
- It is the ninth time this season he has had at least six assists, including the fourth time in the last six games.
- It is the third time this season he has played 39 minutes in a game.
- Quade Green had his best game since returning from injury six games ago. He tallied 15 points tonight, his most since getting 15 vs. Georgia on Dec. 31.
- Kevin Knox had 10 points, his 18th double-figure game of the season.
- Nick Richards had five points and led the Wildcats in rebounding with eight.
Coach John Calipari
- Calipari has a 711-200 all-time on-court record.
- Calipari is now 266-60 at Kentucky.
- Calipari is 147-8 at Rupp Arena.
- Calipari is 14-94 vs. Tennessee in his career.
