WHO'S CINDERELLA NOW? TENNESSEE VOLS FALL TO KENTUCKY WILDCATS 72-66

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 23, 2008 12:59 AM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball

Tennessee		Kentucky
66	Points	72
22/57 - 39%	Field Goals	22/45 - 49%
7/26 - 27%	3-Point FGs	4/15 - 27%
15/21 - 71%	Free Throws	24/28 - 86%
27 (12/15)	Rebounds (Off-Def)	36 (9/27)
11	1st Half Fouls	8
13	2nd Half Fouls	11
24	Total Fouls	19
6	Steals	3
5	Blocks	9
8	Assists	16
9	Turnovers	12
8 / 9	Assist/Turnover	16 / 12
20	Bench Points	25
14	Second Chance Points	9
12	Points Off Turnovers	7
28	Points In the Paint	28
6	Fastbreak Points	2

Once upon a time, an unranked men's basketball team sloughing through an unforgettable season played host to a nationally-ranked rival. The underdog's fans poor-mouthed the team and bemoaned its chances of sending the powerhouse visitor home with a loss. In the end, when the clock struck zeroes and the final buzzer sounded with the underdog on top, those same fans celebrated with exuberance. They reveled, caroused, and frolicked like they'd just won the national championship.

That was Knoxville, circa 1999.

That was Lexington, last night.

Last night, it was the Vols, not the 'Cats who brought their national ranking into an unranked opponent's inhospitable environment. It was Kentucky's, not Tennessee's, fans who wisely measured their words into tiny digestible morsels in case they had to eat them later. And it was the fans of the Big Blue, not the Big Orange, who were ecstatic with a surprise victory over a favored opponent.

So we can talk about those ugly numbers in that pretty chart up there. We can look with disdain upon the 39% field goal percentage, or the all-too-meager-yet-all-too-familiar free throw percentage, or the rebounds and blocked shots that are symptoms of a serious size deficiency inside. But the most interesting thing about last night to me is that Kentucky was absolutely, undeniably jubilant in victory. It was almost as if they were happy to have received a pair of glass slippers as hand-me-downs from the Tennessee team of almost ten years ago.

I offer sincere congratulation to Kentucky fans for besting our team last night. The Wildcats played a great game and deserved to win.

But I offer an even more genuine gratitude to coach Pearl and the Pantheon for making the Big Blue so downright giddy about it.

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Congrats on Vols Season Thus Far

Sorry, I'm a UK fan but wanted to take time to congratulate the Vols on their season thus far. UK needed this game far more than UT, and we had a sense of urgency that was almost unprecedented. In the long run the win helps UK tremendously and hurts UT very little in the grand scheme of things. UT is a team on a mission and should compete for a spot in the Final Four. Go SEC!

by Blueblood on Jan 23, 2008 9:22 AM EST reply actions

No apologies needed.

The UK fans have been nothing but classy, and we can certainly appreciate what the win meant to your program (even if it came at our expense). Enjoy the win, and best of luck to you. I speak for myself only, but I do think I'd like to see UK be the second-best team in the SEC. I hope the compliment comes through.

by David Hooper on Jan 23, 2008 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Aerobab!

I forgot all about it, but---

Did you see the "future(wide receiver to only play special teams)" down a punt and do his little dance in the end zone on Sunday??

Hilarious stuff.

I wonder if Stallworth tells him after everytime he catches a pass. "Hey, Future, did you see that? I just caught an actual pass! When was your last....oh, sorry!"

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 23, 2008 12:41 PM EST reply actions

O-M-G!

Yeah, I saw that and both my dad and I laughed our backsides off at the announcer's remark that went something like this:

Kelly Washington with a volleyball-type hit to keep the ball from entering the endzone! What an incredible play! As the 5th receiver, I'm sure he'd rather be catching passes, but I think he'll celebrate this play!

Hilarious stuff that just can't be scripted!

How much longer until "The Future" of the NFL arrives? Oh yeah, 5 years ago!

by Aerobab on Jan 23, 2008 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

loss to UK

All I have to say is "shot selection, shot selection, shot selection."

The rebounds, free throws and lack of inside scoring presence are killing us, but UT took two ill-advised, crunch-time 3s last night by Ramar Smith and Tyler Smith that were ridiculous and led to the loss.

I love Pearl's style, but until we start valuing possessions at crucial moments rather than flinging Hail Mary's with 28 seconds on the shot clock, we're not going to be the Final Four team we're capable of being.

by ghostofneyland on Jan 23, 2008 2:28 PM EST reply actions

Amen

I cringed everytime I watched that "offense" unfold late in the second half. Nobody could (or would) get open. It was like nobody but Lofton wanted to be out there.

And Childress is really disappointing me. I swear he looks like he is surprised to touch the ball everytime he gets his hands on it. I really thought he was going to be good after last season.

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 23, 2008 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

I like the whole "trading places" theme

...but the Vols actually won the SEC East in 1999 (although it's arguable whether that is "forgettable" or not), so the comparison doesn't really hold water, as much as I want it to.

We did frolic after beating the 'Cats. In fact, we did it twice that year.

by Spirit of the Hill on Jan 25, 2008 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Good point

I was aware of that as I was writing it, but I finally decided it still worked in a more general sense. That was a good year, all things considered, and we did beat them twice that season, but they were still the big kid on the block at the time. This season could turn out to be as much of a blip as that was, but I'm betting not. And in any event, on Tuesday we were favored and they were the underdog, and both teams acted like it.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 25, 2008 11:54 AM EST reply actions