Defense, Momentum Carry Cats Past Tennessee
It was just two weeks ago that Kentucky built a double-digit, second-half lead against Tennessee, only to see the Vols go on a 26-6 run to turn that double-digit deficit into a double-digit lead. Eventually, Tennessee would claim an 82-71 win at Rupp Arena.
On Saturday in Knoxville, Kentucky again built a double-digit lead, sparked by a 15-0 run in the first half. But unlike the game at Rupp, the Cats used a lock-down defensive effort to beat the Vols 70-55 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
For the Cats, it was important to get off to a fast start, according to sophomore Keion Brooks Jr.
“It was extremely important to know that we can do that,” Brooks said. “We can build these leads and finally bury a team and put a team away. It felt good to be able to keep our foot on the gas pedal the whole time. We need to build on that and do that more often.”
The win was the third in a row for the Cats, who improved to 8-13 on the season and 7-7 in the Southeastern Conference.
Guard Davion Mintz made a subtle hint at the first game in Saturday’s post-game press conference.
“I think that we owed them one and it was big for us to come in and do it,” Mintz said.
The Cats came out of the gates hot, hitting 17 of 28 (60.7 percent) from the field in the first half, including six of nine (66.7 percent) from behind the arc. In the process, Kentucky built a 17-point lead before settling for a 45-30 lead at the break.
But what may have been more impressive was what the Cats did in the second half. Kentucky hit just six of 29 (20.7 percent) from the field in the second 20 minutes. Despite those struggles, UK was able to extend the lead to as many as 21 due to a stifling defense that contained Tennessee. The Vols made just seven of 26 (26.9 percent) including just one of 12 (8.3 percent) from long range.
UK head coach John Calipari knows that his team is capable of locking down their opponents.
“We’re a good defensive team,” said Calipari. “We knew this was going to be hand-to-hand combat. (Tennessee has) a chance to be in the Final Four. We came in here and did it. They weren’t at their best today. We were at our best.”
Calipari has never given up on his team, which has seen its share of struggles this season.
“Like I told them after, even when they were playing bad, I believed in them,” Calipari said. “Even when individuals were so bad that it was scary, I believed in them. You just keep working with kids—they’re kids. You keep working with them. You hold them accountable, but you keep encouraging and coaching and challenging them and getting them to work outside of their comfort level.”
Winners of three in a row, the Cats will try to keep the momentum going with just three regular season games remaining. Brooks knows it’s important to build on Saturday’s win.
“So now, let’s keep it rolling. Let’s keep the momentum that we’ve got, keep playing this way,” Brooks said. “Playing hard, believing in each one of our teammates, believing in the coaching staff. Like I said before, everybody needs each other to get it done. So, that’s the feeling right now.”
It’s a feeling that this team has not experienced as much as normal this season. But it could be that the Cats are coming together at just the right time.
