No. 12 Kentucky withstood the absence of two starters and handed No. 8 Tennessee its first dwelling lack of the season on Tuesday, because the Wildcats ended a two-game shedding streak with a gritty 78-73 win over the Volunteers. Jaxson Robinson led the way in which with 17 factors as UK (15-5, 4-3 SEC) scored extra towards Tennessee than every other staff this season.
The Wildcats made 12 of 24 makes an attempt from past the arc and used a 25-11 spurt over the primary eight minutes of the second half to realize separation en path to their third straight street win over the Volunteers (17-4, 4-4). Tennessee has misplaced 4 of its previous seven video games since a 14-0 begin that propelled this system to a five-week keep at No. 1 within the AP ballot.
Three days after the Volunteers made simply 4 of twenty-two photographs from past the arc in a 53-51 loss at No. 1 Auburn, the chilly capturing continued towards Kentucky as Tennessee made simply 11 of 45 3-point makes an attempt. Senior level guard Zakai Zeigler, who returned from an harm scare late within the first half, went 1 of 11 from deep for the Vols. Igor Milicic Jr. led Tennessee with 19 factors. However poor capturing wasn’t the one problem for Tennessee, which surrendered extra 3-pointers than it had in any sport this season.
Kentucky’s environment friendly offensive efficiency was all of the extra spectacular due to the circumstances, as start line guard Lamont Butler missed the sport as a consequence of a shoulder harm. Traditional beginning ahead Andrew Carr was additionally restricted to only one minute due to a again harm. Kentucky coach Mark Pope inserted veteran sharsphsooter Koby Brea into the beginning lineup instead of Butler, and the Wildcats relied on a trio of inexperienced freshmen for significant minutes.
Large video games up subsequent
Kentucky entered on its first two-game shedding streak of Pope’s tenure, and a loss to the Volunteers would have left them reeling coming into a big showdown Saturday. The Wildcats are welcoming Arkansas and former coach John Calipari to Rupp Enviornment in what’s certain to be an emotionally charged ambiance. The Razorbacks are simply 12-8 (1-6 SEC), however Calipari’s presence on the opposing sideline will make for a charming spectacle.
Tennessee now enters a sport vs. No. 5 Florida on its first two-game shedding streak of the season. It is going to be a gut-check second for the Volunteers, who suffered a 73-43 loss at Florida on Jan. 7.
Kentucky enjoying by means of harm woes
Butler had been enjoying by means of the shoulder harm that stored him out towards Tennessee. However after he dedicated six turnovers and seemed to be in apparent discomfort throughout a loss at Vanderbilt on Saturday, the Wildcats opted to offer Butler Tuesday evening off.
“Lamont has bought rather a lot proper now,” Pope stated after the Vanderbilt sport. “Everyone knows what a warrior he’s. He’s giving us every little thing he is bought proper now.”
With out Butler, Pope opted to deploy a lineup that includes no conventional level guard. Ultimately, middle Amari Williams led the Wildcats with 4 assists.
Carr has been suffering from the again problem for weeks, and it lastly bought to some extent earlier than the Vanderbilt sport that Kentucky determined to carry him out. Coming into the Tennessee sport, he was thought of a game-time resolution, and Pope introduced him off the bench for the primary time this season. Nevertheless, Carr logged barely greater than a minute earlier than trying out after getting beat 1-on-1 off the dribble on a play that exhibited the bodily limitations introduced by his again problem.
Butler ranks second on the staff in scoring at 13.2 factors and leads Kentucky in assists (4.8) and steals (1.8). Carr averages 10.9 factors, 5.6 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists whereas capturing a team-best 53.9% from the ground. Whereas Kentucky survived for a formidable win Tuesday with out the companies of Butler and Carr, their well being can be crucial to the Wildcats’ long-term aspirations.
Pope tabbed Fairleigh Dickinson switch Ansley Almonor to take Carr’s place within the beginning lineup for the loss to Vanderbilt and he delivered a 4-of-5 capturing efficiency from 3-point vary whereas tying a season-high with 12 factors. Again within the lineup for a second straight sport, the sharpshooting ahead turned in one other gem towards the Volunteers as he hit 4-of-7 photographs from deep. Almonor would not convey the identical versatility as Carr to the facility ahead place. However he’s a greater 3-point shooter, and he is stepped up in a big method amid Carr’s absence.