The Official #9 Tennessee vs. #5 Kentucky Game Thread, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN

[I4Vols]

Three keys to making a Final 4 run.

1. Good guard play
2. Elite defense
3. Experience

Tennessee checks all of those boxes. Why not us?

Add the players are real teammates, they seem to really be on the same page.

Excited to see BHH & URO's play of late as well as Fulky looking like on a mission.

 

[1974Vol]

View attachment 438926

Barnes bet the Mildcats couldn't beat us from the 3 line and played his big guys in an effort to shut down Tshiebwe. He was right about their 3 point shooting and they did shutdown Tshiebwe about as much as you can. I was screaming for the 3 guard line up early over keeping Hatfield and Ado in the game but CRB stuck with his bigs because he's forgotten more basketball than I will ever know. Great game plan coach and man did our guys play hard and smart. Such an outstanding win! Finish it tomorrow Vols!! GBO!!!

 

[Volfan1000]

Always great to beat Kentucky in the SEC Tournament and now we face off against a red hot A&M squad for the title tomorrow.

 

[I4Vols]

They’ve all but completely disappeared - what a shame!

I just checked, they are on the kitty board

 

[wmcovol]

With a win in the Championship game. UT should be at least a 2!

If Auburn won the championship, they’d be a 1
if Kentucky won it they’d be a 1.
If Tennessee wins it, they should be a 1.

 

[lostsheep]

Love how the score on the ESPN ticker has 3 lines about KY’s performance, followed by just 1 for us showing KC and JJJ points scored.
We get absolutely no credit or respect at all.

 

[cobbwebb0710]

GBO!!

 

[volsagain]

Starting to feel better about Tn playing good ball away from Knoxville

I think Barnes has the best 3 guard game in the nation. That has a great chance to win it all !!! GBO !!!

 

[volinbama256]

A&M playing very physical right now and sky high.. really hope they are tired tomorrow! Get our boys some IV's and rest!

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Barnes bet the Mildcats couldn't beat us from the 3 line and played his big guys in an effort to shut down Tshiebwe. He was right about their 3 point shooting and they did shutdown Tshiebwe about as much as you can. I was screaming for the 3 guard line up early over keeping Hatfield and Ado in the game but CRB stuck with his bigs because he's forgotten more basketball than I will ever know. Great game plan coach and man did our guys play hard and smart. Such an outstanding win! Finish it tomorrow Vols!! GBO!!!

Great observations. I was screaming for small ball too, and was wrong.

 

[Delmar]

The Vescovi rebound needs to be on a poster. IDC that he only made 1 FT

I agree. That play may have saved the game.

 

[camp_steveo]

Excellent game by the Vols.

We all knew UK would make a run if the Vols got a lead, but the Vols were very capable of shutting UK down every time they tried.

 

[walkenvol]

I appreciate The Volunteers because they have given me a reason to smoke some carne asada Tomorrow.... I'm proud of our Men.... play Hard and face Adversity

Be sure to invite Treppie and The Dog!

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

It blows my mind that if we win the championship tomorrow we wont get considered for a 1 seed. Our resume is that of a 1 seed.

 

[NighthawkVol]

One of the worst officiated games I've ever watched. Biased announcers were absolute trash as well. Happy for our guys. I'm sure this W feels 10x better knowing the refs were trying to steal it away.

The announcers? They were very complimentary to Tennessee. Dykes always is.

 

[volsagain]

The refs gave it their best shot, but it wasn't enough.

Can't believe how much ZZ has helped this team really think he is the difference. I was worried when we lost our big man . Fulky coming off the beach has been big also.

 

[walkenvol]

Barnes bet the Mildcats couldn't beat us from the 3 line and played his big guys in an effort to shut down Tshiebwe. He was right about their 3 point shooting and they did shutdown Tshiebwe about as much as you can. I was screaming for the 3 guard line up early over keeping Hatfield and Ado in the game but CRB stuck with his bigs because he's forgotten more basketball than I will ever know. Great game plan coach and man did our guys play hard and smart. Such an outstanding win! Finish it tomorrow Vols!! GBO!!!

We really gave up way too many second and third chances to ky when we went to the small lineup.

 

[The Dog]

Be sure to invite Treppie and The Dog!

I think that's food/roast, but I'm high

 

[HiltonHeadVol]

A few random thoughts after this game:
1). There will be a natural inclination to lean toward "reffing" to get A&M into the win tomorrow for the Cinderella factor and the big increase in payout and prestige to the conference to have an extra team in the dance. And i am hearing that they very well may not get in unless they win the tourney on Sunday.
2). Refs reviewed TWO replays where SV was clearly intentionally fouled twice in one play on that rebound toward the end and chose to stick with an offensive foul AND the call where Uros complained that he was slugged in the chin by Oscar Tshiebwe and the replay PROVED that he was slugged and NO call was made. If these guys aren't going to actually utilize replay reviews with any semblance of reality, then stop using them and delaying the game.
3) Sadly, I don't believe we can get to a 2 seed even if we win ......they will say A&M aren't a big enuf win to bump us.
4). Tomorrow will be a very difficult game to win. Gritty team in the Ags. But so are we. Go Vols

 

[JCP201]

Hats off to Fulky, drawing #4 and #5 - turning point in the game, IMO.

Fulky may not score the most points, but when he is out there, the offense and defense runs better.

 

[Vol49er]

Hats off to Fulmer and Boyd and whoever else was involved in keeping Barnes around when he was threatening to jump ship to UCLA, too

 

[dobre_shunka]

We really gave up way too many second and third chances to ky when we went to the small lineup.

You have to expect a drop in rebounds with shorter guys

 

[I4Vols]

With 8 fouls...

 

[Jimmy Football]

View attachment 438933

GBO!!

Thank you for your service, @Bassmaster_Vol.

 

[v0ltan]

While the call against SV was really bad, I still can't get over Plavsic getting the hand to face, having it reviewed, to only wave it off. They just didn't want ky star center to pick up third foul so quickly. Our bigs really played good today. Do it again tomorrow and we finally get the championship