Notes From Kentucky's 61-59 Loss To Tennessee

UK MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES

TENNESSEE AT KENTUCKY 

RUPP ARENA | LEXINGTON, KY.

FEB. 6, 2018
ATTENDANCE: 23,332

Final Score: #15/14 Tennessee 61, #24/24 Kentucky 59

                                                          

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 17-7 overall and 6-5 in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee is 18-5, 8-3 in league play.  
• Kentucky leads the series 153-71, including 92-17 in Lexington. 
• Next for the Wildcats: Kentucky plays Saturday at Texas A&M. Game time is 8:15 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST in College Station) and it will be televised by ESPN.

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, PJ Washington, Kevin Knox and Nick Richards for the 10^th time this season. UK is 6-4 with this lineup.
• Kentucky extended its streak of 1,037 consecutive games with a 3-pointer when Quade Green connected with 16:10 on the clock. 
• It was UK’s only field goal of the first nine minutes of the game, but made foul shots and energetic defense kept the Wildcats in the contest.
• UK’s next basket also was a 3-pointer by Green and puts the Cats ahead 11-9 at the 10:46 mark.
• UK’s first two-point field goal of the game was a dunk by Vanderbilt with 5:09 on the clock.
• After making just two of the first 14 shots, Vanderbilt’s dunk began a streak of four straight made field goals.  
• Tennessee got hot late in the half and went to intermission ahead 27-26.  
• Green led the Wildcats with 10 points, the fourth time this season he has been at double figures in the first half.
• UK is 6-5 this season when behind or tied at halftime. This was UK’s fourth straight game to trail at halftime.

In the Second Half

• Tied at 46, Tennessee went on a 4-0 run to lead 50-46. 
• It was the only time in the entire game that either team led by more than three points.
• Kentucky responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a Knox steal and driving basket-and-one, to put the Cats back ahead 53-50.  
• Tied at 56, Gilgeous-Alexander worked his way into the lane and swished a jumper with 1:28 left.
• Tennessee came back with a 3-pointer by Lamonte Turner and a breakaway dunk by Admiral Schofield to go ahead 61-58.
• Tennessee fouled with 1.3 seconds left. Gilgeous-Alexander made the first but Tennessee claimed the rebound on the second to hold on to the 61-59 win.

Team Notes

• UK is now 3-2 this season in games decided by three points or less.
• Tennessee shot 23.8 percent from three-point range today, 5 of 21.  UK entered the game third in the nation in 3-point defense at 28.9 percent. 
• UK is 42-10 in “bounce back” games (following losses) under Coach John Calipari.
• UK is 51-25 under Calipari in games vs. opponents in The Associated Press top 25.
• Kentucky is 150-6 under Calipari when limiting the opponent to 63 or fewer points.
• UK had not lost when holding the opponent to 63 or less since the 2014 NCAA championship game vs. Connecticut. 
• Over the last four seasons, the Wildcats had won 60 in a row when keeping the opponent to 63 or less. 

Player Notes  

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander totaled 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.  
• Alexander has averaged 20 points over the last three games.
• His six rebounds is one shy of his career high.
• It is the ninth time this season he has had at least six assists, including the fourth time in the last six games. 
• It is the third time this season he has played 39 minutes in a game.
• Quade Green had his best game since returning from injury six games ago. He tallied 15 points tonight, his most since getting 15 vs. Georgia on Dec. 31.
• Kevin Knox had 10 points, his 18^th double-figure game of the season.
• Nick Richards had five points and led the Wildcats in rebounding with eight. 

Coach John Calipari

• Calipari has a 711-200 all-time on-court record.
• Calipari is now 266-60 at Kentucky.
• Calipari is 147-8 at Rupp Arena.
• Calipari is 14-94 vs. Tennessee in his career.