Kentucky Wildcats fall to Tennessee: 4 things to know, box score and postgame banter

The Kentucky Wildcats got their first SEC loss of the season against the Tennessee Volunteers with a final score of 76-65 on Saturday. In a game riddled with whistles, the Wildcats failed to find a rhythm on offense and had no answer for the Volunteers defensively in the second half.

It was an ugly game all around. Looking toward Texas A&M coming to town on Tuesday, here are four things to know from tonight’s lackluster performance.

Tai Wynyard sidelined again.

Wynyard was listed as being out with a back injury on Saturday, and he may very well be the unnamed player still down with the flu. This is the second game in a row Wynyard has missed, and the 5th out of the lat 6. Especially with a million fouls being called throughout the game (including Wenyen Gabriel fouling out with 12 minutes remaining), it would have been great to have more depth in the front court.

Super Cats

The University of Tennessee made a technical error in setting up their stat-tracking website for the game. It could have greatly benefited the Wildcats if they were allowed to utilize the roster changes suggested by system.

Obviously, they had not updated the Kentucky roster with this year’s players. It would have been nice to have those guys though, wouldn’t it?

Final Four bound?

Before this season, John Calipari was 3-4 at Thompson-Bowling Arena while coaching the Kentucky Wildcats. All three teams that have won at Tennessee have gone on to the Final Four that season, but none of those that have lost have made it that far. Does a loss away to the Volunteers mean Kentucky will not be able to make a run to San Antonio? If Saturday’s performance is any indication, that seems likely.

No fight.

For all of the fight his team showed in the first two SEC match-ups, it just was not there against Tennessee. Wenyen Gabriel brought energy off the bench, but he was not available after fouling out with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked nothing like the player we have seen the last three games. PJ Washington spent most of the second half on the bench with extreme cramps. The other guys honestly looked like they would rather be elsewhere. Coach Cal can’t be happy with that lack of effort.

Here is the final box score:

Now, let’s discuss!