Tennessee Men's Basketball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl said it best one day earlier: "It's still Kentucky.''
The Wildcats defeated the No. 3 Vols 72-66 at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night, a day after UT received its highest ranking in school history. Kentucky also ended UT's 11-game win streak.
Kentucky freshman Patrick Patterson proved too much to handle under the basket, scoring 20 points and pulling down eight rebounds as the Wildcats (8-9, 2-2 SEC) pulled away in final minutes.
While Kentucky was still Kentucky, Pearl made it clear he didn't think Tennessee (16-2, 3-1) played like the same team that had matched its best start in school history.
"Every team has to find an identity, and so far this year ours is to play with passion and poise,'' Pearl said. "I thought tonight Kentucky was the more passionate team.
"How can a team that's leading the SEC in assists, by far, have only eight assists on 22 baskets? I think sometimes we didn't make the extra pass.''
Chris Lofton led the Vols with 22 points and broke the SEC's all-time 3-point record by making five to reach 367, one more than Pat Bradley of Arkansas.
Alas, Lofton's record-breaker came with 4.6 seconds left and brought the Vols to 70-66 - too little, too late.
The loss dropped Pearl's record against Kentucky to 2-3 and marked only the fifth time in 60 games UT has lost a game it led or was tied in with five minutes remaining.
The game was tied at 54-54 at the 5-minute mark in the second half, and Lofton tied the game again at 60-60 with two free throws at the 2:14 mark.
But over the final 1:30, it was the Wildcats' free-throw show, as they went 12-of-12 from the line while UT managed only two Lofton 3- pointers, those coming in the final 12.1 seconds after the game was out of reach.
"You'd like to have them go down and earn the two points,'' Pearl said. "It seemed like there were many times we came down needing a basket after they had made free throws.''
The baskets were hard to come by outside of Lofton, who hit 7 of 14 shots from the floor, 5 of 10 from 3-point range.
The rest of the Vols combined to make only 15 of 43 shots, including 2-of-16 beyond the 3-point arc.
Pearl said he thought UT's recent stretch of games - Thursday against Vanderbilt, Saturday against Ohio State and Tuesday night's game against Kentucky - might have taken its physical toll.
The Vols had matched their largest lead of the game when a Wayne Chism dunk made it 43-33 with 17:26 left and was still up by nine when a J.P. Prince dunk left the score at 48-39 with 13:34 remaining.
The Wildcats stormed back with Patterson down low and tenacious defense. Patterson scored on consecutive possessions and Joe Crawford hit back-to-back treys to tie the game at 50-50 with 11:10 left.
After that, the lead changed hands seven times and the game was tied on five occasions before Kentucky took control from the free-throw line.
The Vols led 36-30 at the intermission behind Lofton's 14 first-half points.
UT would have held the first-half lead exclusively if not for a 6-0 Wildcats' run that gave Kentucky a 10-9 lead at the 12:56 mark.
Lofton saw to it the advantage was short-lived, driving for a layup 21 seconds later to put UT back on top, 11-10, and closed the half with a trey just before the buzzer.
Perhaps not so ironically, the last time the Vols got off to a 16-1 start was the 2000-01 season, and it was Kentucky that brought them down with a 74-64 victory in Rupp Arena.
The Vols and Wildcats meet again at Thompson-Boling Arena at noon on March 2, when former UT star Ernie Grunfeld will have his jersey retired.
The Vols' next game is at 7 p.m. Saturday against Georgia (11-5, 2-1) at Thompson-Boling Arena where UT has a 26-game home-court win streak, the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.
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Comments » 250
MemphisVol writes:
We lost by playing DUMB BASKETBALL tonight. should have beaten that team. Get em in Knoxville!
IdahoVol writes:
Let's see how many of the idiot posters jump ship after this one. (After all, it's Fulmer's fault we lost tonight.)
Tough place to play, and chances are we were not going to go undefeated in the SEC. I can't wait till we get the Cats in Ktown!
Ironcity writes:
As good as our halfcourt defense has been this year our press has been ineffective most of the year and especially in the SEC. If we don't steal the inbounds pass, teams are getting a lot of easy baskets. Not sure why that is.
tigervol9802 writes:
From the other article from me:
As much as it pains me to say this, Pearl just got his rear handed to him by Billy G in the second half. He let it become the game Kentucky wanted in the half court, and did not seem to deliberately try to get #5 the ball in the econd half.
Poor job. There is no way we should lose to that team, I don't care where it was played.
james#216392 writes:
Can you say CHOKE. Certainly did not act like a #3 team. Didn't pressure the ball. Didn't finish. Certainly didn't deserve to win. 3 games in 6 days seemed to have taken their legs and hearts. Maybe this will get them back to earth after a very very short trip up the polls.
SmokeDog72 writes:
Vols beat Kentucky by 20 plus in Knoxville. Count on it.
As crappy as we played, we were a couple of decent shots away from winning tonight.
Rebounding, movement away from the ball, and foul shooting have to improve or I see a Sweet 16 or Elite 8 exit.
Retiredvol writes:
It's Florida in football and Kentucky in basketball. Just can't beat em. What a lousy 2nd half UT played. Loss will build character!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
The inability to adjust at all and get it in the paint is very concerning. If it's not a layup or a 3, seems we can't score. I knew someone would finally step up and stuff our layups. Kentucky played us perfectly - and I expect so will others. Our game is way too wild and aloof - not good March material.
primetimevol writes:
Oh yeah, the Big Blue is back! Gimme a break! You're 2-2 in the SEC and 8-9 overall. You lost to the Toros and Gardner Webb! Just wait till you come to Knoxville when we blow you out by 20. We played our worst game, and you saved Gilespie's job for a couple more games. Better hope you win the SEC tourney, or it's off to the NIT you go!
ratkins589#246270 writes:
#3 for a day (sigh)
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
$1000 says airforceone doesn't show up in knoxville to see ut win by 20! face it....one close loss on the road isn't stopping this team.
SmokeDog72 writes:
Airforceone,
I guess you now know how we look at your football team!!!!!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
two more reasons ky will be watching the big dance on tv....gardner-webb and san diego!
SmokeDog72 writes:
And by the way, Airforceone, who's your daddy? Your uncle or your cousin?
Retiredvol writes:
C'mon guys all Air Force One can talk about is basketball. UT has the longest winning streak in Division 1 football against ???????
Who else the baby cats of KENTUCKY
Can't wait till they baby cats visit Knoxville
OldNumber7 writes:
AirForceOne deserves to gloat - they spanked us with sound basketball. But I tell you what, you don't own the SEC in basketball. We do have another good team here as well. Care to insert a sexest remark?
jr8657 writes:
3 games in 6 days finally caught up with us in the last 10 minutes of the second half. we did not impose our will and our style on them tonight. Were up 10 with about 10 to go and down the stretch we just stood! Just ran out of gas...all you can say! This will help us moving on from here, Coach Pearl will use this moving forward.
huntined#565710 writes:
Did not run the ball down the court..
Played their kind of ball.
Cost us a game.. Vols will re-charge and know they will have to play their best every game
CONG. CHRIS looks as if you are back and we know you are the best 3-pointer in the SEC.
Lot of ball left to play..
GO VOLS
anthony writes:
ESPN wins another one against the Big Orange. I don't know who is running that company, an octupus without a brain!!! Did you hear the announcers??? And the refs!! Did they ever call one against Kentucky when we drove the lane??? This has been another one of the same. We are not suppossed to win at Kentucky. We are just Tennessee.
Retiredvol writes:
Agree with kdt07. Our free throw percentage is terrible although tonight was better. If you guys remember Coach Mears used to make the team shoot rotating free throws after practice everyday. They had to make 100 in a row before hitting the showers. Coach Pearl take some notes!!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
just sell your tickets airforceone and buy a new hdtv to watch ut in the tourney! a 4 pt win in rupp will equate to a 20 pt loss in knoxville...seriously.
SFOrange writes:
Please Mr. AirForceOne, close the door to your trailer and say goodnight.
N2Motorsports writes:
I thought Coach Pearl did a poor job of going after Patterson and Bradley when they were in foul trouble. Bradley had 2 fouls early in the 1st half and no one attacked him. Same thing for Patterson. He picked up his 4th foul deep into the 2nd half and Wayne Chism never touched the ball down on the block.
Tennessee will be fine. Coach Pearl won't let this team panic.
wally writes:
Hey AFO...who owns the SEC record for 3 pointers...where is he from...what team does he play for...and where was the record set?
We won't be hearing from you after the Cats get drilled in K-town.
threehundredbowler writes:
Out coached this night,bad shot selection(Too many wild threes},trying too many alley oop passes(show boating}missd free throws, spelled defeat tonight and will again soon.Hope not but count on it.This team needs more patience, especially on the road.Should have beaten this team tonight.Kentucky is not that good as we will see later.Of course anything can happen when our Coach is a God.Ain't that right crvol?This is not a put down of the Vols,just the way it seems to me.
jgvol8 writes:
This is college basketball in the SEC. It is tough to win on the road; especially in Rupp. If we go 13-3 or 12-4, we will win the East. If you're a college basketball fan, you know that we weren't going to go undefeated in SEC. We will be just fine. At least Phat Phil isn't on the sideline clapping his phat hands telling the players it is ok when they screw up. I love Pearl's intensity. He will take us where we need to go. GOVOLS!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
it's a sad day in ky basketball history when players, coaches, and fans storm the court at rupp after a win! at least this time they won the game before running out there.
wally writes:
jeez...AFO is celebrating as if they beat us in football. I guess it was quite the upset.
tractoronthepole writes:
Time to man up and get Crews active under the boards. Pearl must work the refs harder the no calls were terrible, why can't we get as many no calls in Knoxville? No we haven't peaked, we haven't really played a complete game since Xavier. Suck it up guys and build on this one, they wanted it more.
jgvol8 writes:
Air Force One... Face the facts. The BLOOO HOOOO will not make the tournament
ksteelescvol writes:
Tuff loss 2nite, but no one in the ncaa will go undefeated this year just ask NC. A loss like this will make practice a little more intense this week, and will help us in march. Airforce you get to gloat tonight but you want be a factor in march. Good to see lofton set the record at Rupp...
ajbake writes:
Kentucky will lose by 15 at home to Western Kentucky in the first round of the NIT... if they're lucky
alfrizzle097 writes:
Vols didn't handle pressure well. Lofton didn't get any looks for 18 minutes and suddenly takes about 10 shots in the last 2. If he is our best scorer, have him involved at least once every posession. I know Pearl wants to stick to his rotation, but if a certain lineup is the only one working, keep a guy in for 35 minutes.
Couchdummy writes:
Agree with the nnease15 post! Let me ask the collective posters, what the f**k is a shadow defender that Brad Nessler the commentator and his color guy espoused? What a BS term for a simple zone defense IMO!!!
Pullingguard writes:
Don't know if it was a one night thing or not, but this team did not move without the ball tonight. Too much standing around... Lofton was guilty of this hanging back, way back beyone the arc for the three pointer... This team cannot go where they want to go depending on Lofton shooting the trey. They have got to work the ball, left Smith do the penetrating and take sensible shots around the key. Ok so Lofton scored 22, but he took a lot of bad shots, ill timed shots... Not sure that Pearl was at his best tonight, especially in the 2nd half.
flashbone writes:
wayne chism didnt touch the ball on the block because he is too busy jacking up threes. hes going to have to get tougher. patterson manhandled him. but patterson will dominate anybody as long as hes able to use his arms to get position. he was also over the back all night.
Ironcity writes:
Some of you guys are being hard on Childress. I know he has played lousy of late but he is a good player who just is not playing well. He will come around. As for Howell, I am not sure what he brings to this team right now. He should be able to hit at least 45% on his threes he is always wide open.
Titan writes:
I also see that "spurtability" has bled over from Kellogg on CBS to ESPN. Enjoy it while you can AFO - it won't last.
OldNumber7 writes:
We have 3 more games against Kentucky in basketball this year - I'm looking forward to all of them. Bet we take all 3.
jgvol8 writes:
Why the f@#k does Howell start over Ramar???? I am not John Wooden but I can see that Howell sux. Also, Childress can't play either.
ajbake writes:
we were worn out... 3 games in 6 days against 2 teams that will make the tourney (ohio state, vandy)... if anything, after tonight i hope lofton will stay hot... we simply looked flat tonight
VolCane7979 writes:
Tenn inexplicably failed to drive to create opportunities in the 2nd half, nor did they move the ball into the post. Kentucky deserves some credit, but Tennessee shut themselves down as well. I have no doubt Tennessee will run Kentucky out of T-Bol next time.
AF1 - 8-9 doesn't even make your squad (if you really are a UK fan) eligible for the NIT. Enjoy playing your last game in the 1st round of the SEC tourney and watching the Vols in the dance as a 2 or 3 seed.
jgvol8 writes:
Air Force One.... Kentucky likes to be down
Titan writes:
so AFO, why brag about an overrated team that you should beat? Kind of like us bragging about beating the Mildcats in football.
flashbone writes:
most of ky championships were when they used peach baskets.
DekanGator writes:
Tenn Fans .... Let me handle Airforceone.... Airforceone ... does the university of Florida mean anything to you? 8 straight and 2 National championships mean anything? How bout 3 straight SEC Tour Championships? Wanna talk football?
jgvol8 writes:
And go down
Retiredvol writes:
Air Force ONE call yourself an Idiot because you are!!
teedub writes:
airforceone,
do you think the ky fans like yourself would have reacted this way (the way you are reacting) to a win at rupp 10 years ago? what does that tell you about the state of hoops in the sec east?
see you in k-town, silly, where you'll get a little reminder about who owns the east!
go vols
utchris writes:
The good news is that the sun will come up tomorrow.
Anyone who thought that we would run the gamut without blemish in the SEC had dreamy eyes. Every night in the SEC will be a dog fight, especially on the road. I thought that we looked really flat tonight compared to our other games. We did seem to not take the "dumb" three point shots until about 2 minutes to go. Williams has seem to hurt us in SEC play bc he is not a offensive threat and gets quickly in to foul trouble on the defensive. Hopefully Duke will give us some added depth down low in the coming weeks. Not much orange in the stands..kind of surprised me
This loss will bother me less if we look back on it in 3 or 4 weeks and remember that this game was the game where Chris found his stroke.
Patterson was good tonight...would not be surprised if he leaves for the NBA after this year.
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