Photo via SEC
Kentucky extended their winning streak to three by telling Tennessee to bite the curb and then tread on their faces for 40 minutes. The Wildcats have now won two straight at Thompson-Boling after defeating Tennessee 70-55, their first win over a top-25 team this season.
Tennessee could do nothing to slow down Kentucky in the first half. Davion Mintz was not shy, pulling without hesitation from three in transition and hitting the bottom of the net. He hit his first five three-point attempts while Isaiah Jackson abused the Vols inside. He had 13 points, a few blocked shots and a thunderous shot before break.
As excellent as the offense was in the first half, Kentucky struggled to make shots after halftime. The easy transition bags disappeared as the UK made only 4/23 strokes through the media-under-four-hour time-out, but still led by 20 points, thanks to the whistles that put Kentucky on the free-throw line. The Wildcats have proven that they are in fact free, and drain 17-out-20 to keep the Vols at a distance.
Kentucky’s defense deserves a lot of credit for today’s victory. Tennessee has averaged 82 points over the past four games. On Saturday afternoon, the Vols made only 32.1% of their shots, including 6-out-22 behind the three-point line.
The Big Blue Nation wondered if this team was ever going to make a turn. As usual, the Wildcats succeed just in time for the post-season.