Strange: Perfect timing for coronation

When Bernard King is on the University of Tennessee campus, mighty Kentucky just can’t beat the Vols.

It was true in the 1970s when King was grabbing every rebound in sight and making impossible shots.

It was true Tuesday night, when he came back in a suit and tie to have his number retired.

"That’s six in a row for Bernard,’’ declared UT coach Bruce Pearl. "This was a great night for Tennessee basketball.’’

Number six was an 89-85 thriller on a night when Tennessee fans answered the challenge to paint Thompson-Boling Arena orange.

That’s six in a row, but with an asterisk.

Thirty years had passed since King had a hand in number five, back at Stokely Athletics Center on March 5, 1977. Tennessee should have moved mountains to get him back sooner.

Pearl is Tennessee’s seventh coach since King and his coach, Ray Mears, left campus within months of each other after bringing an SEC championship to town.

The Vols beat the Wildcats — in Knoxville, that is — with regularity through the 1980s and into the early ’90s. Since then, however, it’s been hit and miss.

It had, in fact, been four consecutive misses until Tuesday night.

When Kentucky came to town last year, the Wildcats walked into a hornet’s nest of emotion as UT had already clinched an SEC East title and was honoring living legends Mears and John Ward.

The ’Cats walked out with an 80-78 win, though. It was only a semi-great night for Tennessee basketball.

This time there were no blue-tail flies in the ointment.

Kentucky was the perfect guest, bringing the gravity of its tradition to the occasion, doing its part to make the second half compelling, yet ultimately, not spoiling the party.

Tennessee shot to a 51-35 lead with 16:38 to play. A replay of the Vanderbilt rout three days earlier seemed possible.

That would have been too easy. Kentucky suddenly began scoring on every possession. If the Vols got two, the ’Cats got three at the other end.

The lead diminished bit by bit until it was gone entirely with 3:54 to play.

King, 50 years old and a few sizes broader than his old uniform, couldn’t help the Vols pull this one out of the fire.

But pull it out they did.

On a night when a King was feted, Chris Lofton deserved at least some lesser royal distinction.

Sir Chris? Prince Lofton?

Tennessee’s Vol with the bluegrass roots once again tormented the school that snubbed him.

He scored 23 points in his third game back from a sprained ankle.

"He looked extremely mobile to me,’’ observed Kentucky coach Tubby Smith.

None of Lofton’s trademark rainbow treys came at the end. He did in the Wildcats with the little things.

With the game even at 79-79, Lofton drew the defense then fired a pass to Wayne Chism for an easy bucket.

When Kentucky finally missed a shot, Lofton won the race for the long rebound and pushed the ball up court to Ramar Smith for a layup.

Then, in the final 29 seconds, Lofton repeatedly got free to receive passes and kept the Wildcats at bay by hitting five of six free throws.

So King, the hero from another era, got to enjoy his homecoming without qualification. He wouldn’t have looked favorably on a come-from-behind Kentucky victory.

He applauded his frail old coach and he hugged his old teammates, especially his close friend and running mate Ernie Grunfeld.

There they were, living reminders of the "Ernie & Bernie Show" back home after all these years.

And they would be the first to acknowledge Tennessee basketball has another pretty good show going on these days.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.