A Top 5 Matchup. College Gameday was there. Primetime matchup at 8 PM EST. With the entire country watching. Coming into this game, it had “Game of The Year” written all over it. And it delivered in more ways than one through the first half with physical play, back and forth shots, and a atmosphere unlike any other you’ll see in all of College Basketball.
In the 2nd half, one team would star running away with it and claim a huge resume-building win. What Rick Barnes has done at UT this year is astounding getting them all the way to #1 in the nation and the biggest game in a decade for the Volunteers.
First Half:
PJ Washington would come out of the gates on a mission as he would start out with Kentucky’s first 7 points on 3-4 shooting and a rebound to add to that. Tennessee did looked a little rattled on the road in their first primetime matchup In quite some time.
These two would start going back and forth and didn’t let the other get too much cushion of a lead. Anytime Kentucky would get some momentum, Tennessee would get a key bucket to quiet the crowd with buckets from Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone.
Keldon Johnson would catch fire for the Wildcats as he made 3 straight three’s at one point and had 13 points through the first 11 minutes of the contest. This would become a physical contest as both teams would have players hit the ground hard and a couple of times where Grant Williams stayed on the ground for a little too long on some of the plays.
PJ Washington would start making plays for UK down the stretch as he finished the half with 13 alongside Keldon Johnson. Grant Williams was the leader for the Vols as he finished the half with 8 Points and 5 rebounds on a perfect 3-3 from the field. But at the end of 1, it would be Kentucky with a 6 point lead as UT would never let it get it to double digits and got it to as close as 2. Kentucky 37, Tennessee 31.
Second Half:
UK would start the 2nd half with a PJ Washington jumper and a 3 pointer from Tyler Herro to put the Wildcats up 11 not even a minute into the 2nd half. Johnson would continue is hot streak as he drained another 3 and UK started out the half on a 14-0 run to put the Wildcats up by 20.
Everything was clicking for the Wildcats as everyone seemed to be getting involved in the action. Tennessee’s first free throw attempts of the game came 5 minutes into the 2nd half. It was crazy to think in such a physical and grinding game, that their first free throws came so late in the game. UT’s shooting woes would continue through the second half as they managed to get outscored 25-7 in the first 11 minutes. The Vols were 3-15 from 3 at this point and a mortal 41% from the field.
Someone that took a beating all night long and it seems like his name is repeated is Grant Williams for UT. He was getting pummeled all night long, whether it was under the basket getting rebounds or getting fouled on 3 point shots (which is not his ideal area). UT would start getting things interesting really quick as they went on a 11-0 scoring run in just a minute and a half. UT would cut it to 13 with a big 3 in the corner from Admiral Schofield (who was 0-5 from behind the arc prior to that.)
UT would keep it near 12 but never were able to get to the single digit mark as key put back and 1’s by PJ Washington was able to keep the Vols away. Jordan Bone would hit back to back buckets to cut the deficit to 11 late, but it was too little too late as Kentucky would beat the previous undefeated In SEC play, Volunteers. Kentucky
Notable Players:
Kentucky:
PJ Washington: 25 Points (10-13), 4 Rebounds, 2 Blocks, 2 Steals.
Keldon Johnson: 19 Points (8-14 from the field, 3-6 from 3).
Tyler Herro and Ashtan Hagans: Combined 24 Points, 15 Rebounds, 10 Assists.
Tennessee:
Admiral Schofield: 17 Points (7-18), 6 Rebounds.
Grant Williams: 16 Points (3-4 from the field, 8-9 from the line), 8 Rebounds.
Jordan Bone: 19 Points (8-12), 6 Assists.
Next for the victorious Wildcats, they’ll travel to Columbia to face Missouri. That will be a Tuesday night game that will start at 9 PM EST. For Tennessee, this is their first loss since November, 23rd when they los a neutral site contest in New York City against Kansas. They’ll play on Tuesday as well back in Knoxville against Vanderbilt at 7 PM EST.
Image Credit: https://www.wymt.com/content/sports/Tyler-Herro-named-SEC-Freshman-of-the-Week-making-it-three-straight-for-the-Wildcats-503717561.html
