Vols Falter Late And Drop Road Matchup to Kentucky 75-64
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By Clayton Kilgore
I suppose Kentucky just had our number this year, and I won’t lie - it stinks.
There are few things worse than losing to Kentucky in any organized sport, especially in basketball when they have a brand new head coach and we were playing to more or less secure a one-seed.
Even for me, I realize it was never gonna be a cakewalk, traveling to Rupp Arena and winning on the road, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t another disappointing outcome. We all knew the SEC would be a bloodbath this year, so it’s not the end of the world, but it wasn’t a fun watch at all last night.
Going into this game, Kentucky was ranked 82nd in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency (the Vols were 1st, for what it’s worth). Translation: Kentucky’s defense has had a tendency to be Grade-A certified butt cheeks. Conversely, they’re ranked 3rd in adjusted offensive efficiency, so there is considerable potency on that side.
For whatever reason, the Vols appear to be the ultimate slump-buster for Kentucky and we’ve brought out their best defensively over the two contests. We singlehandedly boosted their defensive metrics because of how poorly we played against them. Last night makes two missed opportunities against a lower tier defense that’s been highly inconsistent.
Credit to the Vols for playing their asses off, I guess. We took the lead with 4:43 left after getting twerked on most of the game, and it was actually looking like we may sneak one. Unfortunately, the Wildcats went on a 17-4 run in the last 4:30 and that fell through.
This is where we talk about it.
Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic Jr. are the heart and soul. They show up and go every game.
Chaz Lanier was abysmal last night. 3-of-13 from the field and 0-7 on 3-pointers. It’s painfully obvious that he has to be better and I’m sure he’d say the same. If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that it was a very close game in the second half even when you take into account how miserably our leading scorer shot the ball.
What an added bonus it would be if Darlinstone Dubar was able to provide literally anything at all.
What exactly is it about us that makes Kentucky play like the Monstars?
It’s easy to be miffed about losing to Kentucky and getting swept this season, I won’t try to convince anyone otherwise, but they shot the lights out against us. They made 12/24 from beyond the arc in both games.
Related: We might have an issue guarding the perimeter against Kentucky. Did we learn nothing from Reed Sheppard? If there’s a dorky white guy with a bad haircut posted up ready to shoot a three, you may wanna get a hand in his face.
It can’t be understated just how poorly Tennessee has played against Kentucky this year.
It was a tale of two stat lines in both matchups. Kentucky made a lot of threes and we made very few. It’s pretty simple. Our outside shooting let us down.
Last night was an absolutely sickening 3-for-18 from 3PT, almost too bad to believe. 16.7%!!! Low-level middle school play.
Reminder that the Vols were 11-for-45 on 3PT back on January 28th at home. Throw me the ball in the corner and I could potentially hit 15%.
Maybe Kentucky unlocked the formula to throttle us, maybe we were in our head against them, I really don’t know. Either way, our shooting was collectively horrendous and that was the primary reason for two tough losses.
The conundrum with Jahmai Mashack?
It’s time for some accountability. His service time and loyalty as a Vol grants him some immunity here, but what the hell? One shot? Zero points? Three rebounds? In 26 minutes of action? You wanna talk about LETHARGIC, look no further.
I can certainly respect being a tenacious defender, but true one-dimensionality can only go so far. Being an anti-liability to score is almost definitely a detractor for our offense as a whole and his offensive aversion makes it feel like we’re on the short end of a 4v5 situation as defenses are content to dial it down on him knowing he won’t even try to create.
With that said, I refuse to believe he can’t score the basketball and I wish he’d go to the basket more. Go be an athlete and put the ball in the hoop for shit’s sake.
Whatever.
Overall, it’s just another lump we should come to expect in conference play.
I’m scrutinizing because I’ve seen this team play at a high level, worthy of a one seed, then we’re getting out-schemed by Mark Pope the very next game. I’m dissatisfied because I expect greatness again as a Vol fan, which is a testament to where we are as an athletic department. It’s puzzling and frustrating to see the offense go so cold, but it’s a long season and all that matters is getting to March and finding the speed slot. I still believe.
Now, someone go wake up Darlinstone and make him get some shots up. We got more work to do.
