UT hands UK another bad loss. Was it good for Cats to get it out of their system now?
Instant analysis from No. 6 Kentucky’s 81-73 loss to Tennessee:
How the game was won
Tennessee’s John Fulkerson scored 27 points and the Volunteers rallied from 51-34 behind in the final 17 minutes to pin a stunning defeat on UK.
Who’s hot
1. Rick Barnes. Following in the footsteps of ex-Tennessee head men Ray Mears and Don DeVoe as UK nemeses, Barnes is now 7-5 as UT head man vs. Kentucky — and is now the first coach with two victories over John Calipari-coached Wildcats teams in Rupp Arena.
2. John Fulkerson. “The Incredible Fulk” lived up to the nickname — hitting 10 of 15 shots and seven of seven free throws while also grabbing six boards.
3. Yves Pons. The Frenchman (Fuveau, France, product) scored 12 of his 15 points in half two to help turn the tide of the game.
Who’s not
1. Immanuel Quickley. The UK guard has had a wonderful sophomore year — but even with 15 points this (5-of-16 field goals, four turnovers) was not one of his better showings.
2. Kentucky post players. Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery combined to make only three of nine shots (Richards went 2-of-5, Montgomery 1-of-4).
3. Kentucky ball handlers. UK fueled the UT second-half comeback with nine turnovers in half two.
4. The Big Blue Nation. They suffer through repeated excruciating football losses to Tennessee only to see UT men’s basketball so frequently a thorn in UK’s side in its signature sport.
Key number(s)
Twenty-three and 12. In the second half, Tennessee outrebounded Kentucky 23-12.
The ‘Cat-mosphere’
1. Nate Sestina blasted through the traditional University of Kentucky Senior Night paper hoop. A quartet that included UK track star Chloe Abbott then performed a soulful rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home.”
Sestina then got the Senior Night start in place of regular power forward EJ Montgomery.
2. Kentucky track All-America Chloe Abbott came back and knocked the national anthem out of the park.
3. The No. 1-ranked UK rifle team got a boisterous ovation when recognized on the court during the under-eight timeout of the first half.
4. Lexington Herald-Leader Executive Editor Peter Baniak and Sports Editor Mathew Graf presented the 2019 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award to UK football star Lynn Bowden at the final TV timeout of half one.
5. Ex-UK center Dakari Johnson was “the Y.”
Up next
No. 6 Kentucky (24-6, 14-3 SEC) will close out its regular season schedule at Florida (18-11, 10-6 SEC going into Wednesday’s 7 p.m. game at Georgia). The game will tip off at 1 p.m. and be telecast by CBS.
Tennessee (17-13, 9-8 SEC) will play host to No. 17 Auburn on Saturday at noon in a game telecast by ESPN2.
This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 11:27 PM.
