{"id":2124,"date":"2023-01-14T23:21:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T23:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/14\/kentucky-stuns-no-5-tennessee-as-wildcats-bounce-back-in-big-way-with-first-quad-1-victory-of-season\/"},"modified":"2023-01-14T23:21:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T23:21:29","slug":"kentucky-stuns-no-5-tennessee-as-wildcats-bounce-back-in-big-way-with-first-quad-1-victory-of-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/14\/kentucky-stuns-no-5-tennessee-as-wildcats-bounce-back-in-big-way-with-first-quad-1-victory-of-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky stuns No. 5 Tennessee as Wildcats bounce back in big way with first Quad 1 victory of season"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kentucky<\/a> rebounded from a stunning home loss to South Carolina<\/a> by knocking off No. 5 Tennessee<\/a> 63-56 on the road Saturday as a double-digit underdog. Playing shorthanded without starting point guard Sahvir Wheeler<\/a>, the Wildcats dominated on the boards and rallied from an early 8-0 deficit to finally pick up their first Quad 1 victory of the season.<\/p>\n

Tennessee (14-3, 4-1 SEC) entered as a 10.5-point favorite with the nation’s No. 1 ranked defense, but Kentucky used a 12-4 edge in second-chance points to overcome 19 turnovers. The Wildcats (11-6, 2-3) won the rebounding battle 43-23 while putting an end to Tennessee’s 25-game home winning streak.<\/p>\n

Uros Plavsic<\/a> scored a career-high 19 points for the Volunteers, who rallied from a 58-50 deficit to have a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the final minute. But after a Plavisc miss with 32 seconds left, the Wildcats iced the game.<\/p>\n

In addition to the absence of Wheeler, who missed the game due to a shoulder injury, the Wildcats were also without reserve forward\u00a0Daimion Collins<\/a> because of a foot injury. Freshman guard Cason Wallace<\/a> played but appeared limited and did not score after injuring his back in the South Carolina loss.<\/p>\n

With a limited rotation, guards Antonio Reeves<\/a> and CJ Fredrick<\/a> came up big for the Wildcats. Reeves scored 18 and Fredrick added 13 while Oscar Tshiebwe<\/a>\u00a0finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.<\/p>\n

After its first 1-3 start to SEC play since the 1986-87 season, Kentucky entered the game outside the projected NCAA Tournament field<\/a>, according to CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm. But Saturday’s win marks the biggest of the year for the Wildcats.<\/p>\n

Fresh life for the ‘Cats<\/h2>\n

Kentucky began the season ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 and as the preseason favorite to win the SEC. But the first two months of coach John Calipari’s 14th season were nothing short of a disappointment. A 78-52 loss at Alabama last Saturday followed by Tuesday’s stunning loss the Gamecocks sent the proud Wildcats fan base spiraling into anger, much of it directed toward its legendary coach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The program’s last NCAA Tournament<\/a> victory came in 2019, and the team’s performance over the last week raised questions over whether these Wildcats have what it takes to even reach the Big Dance this season. A road win over the Volunteers changes the outlook, however.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kentucky has a manageable stretch of games upcoming with home dates against Georgia and Texas A&M next week, followed by a game at Vanderbilt before a Big 12\/SEC Challenge showdown at home with No. 2 Kansas on Jan. 28. If the Wildcats can use the momentum built against Tennessee to handle business over the next two weeks, they’ll have a chance to flip this season’s narrative entirely when the Jayhawks come to town.<\/p>\n

Getting it done at the line<\/h2>\n

Kentucky entered ranked 323rd nationally in free throw shooting percentage at 65.6%. Against South Carolina, the Wildcats made just 7 of 14 attempts. They also made just 5 of 8 attempts against Alabama and were a dreadful 5 of 13 from the line in a December loss to UCLA.<\/p>\n

But against the Volunteers, free-throw shooting was a strength for the Wildcats, who made 22 of 25 attempts, including 14 of 16 in the second half. Tennessee made just 7 of 10 free throws as the Wildcats controlled the game with their physicality and used the Volunteers’ defensive aggression against them in drawing 24 fouls.<\/p>\n

Concerns for Tennessee<\/h2>\n

Tennessee retired the jersey of former star guard Chris Lofton at halftime. The Maysville, Kentucky, native played for the Volunteers from 2004-08 and is the SEC’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers with 431. The Vols could have used some of his sharpshooting prowess against the Wildcats as they made just 3 of 21 attempts from deep. In the second half, Tennessee made just 1 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

The poor shooting performance underscored the long-term concern with the Volunteers, who were again stout defensively by holding Kentucky to just 35.3% shooting. While its defense is elite, Tennessee is prone to crippling offensive slumps, and that was certainly the case Saturday as the Volunteers suffered their first league loss.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n