Welp, the Kentucky Wildcats suffer arguably their worst loss of the season to a bad Tennessee team, 81-73. And they blew a 17 point second half lead in the process.
The Cats let John Fulkerson absolutely dog them, going for 27 points it what was one of the worst games defensively by the entire team.
Also, it was another brutal game for Ashton Hagans, including some costly turnovers late in the second-half. The Vols also out-rebounded Kentucky and simply wanted it more.
It was a complete and total collapse by a Kentucky team that reverted to what it looked like in November and December.
They travel to Florida on Saturday. Here’s what social media had to say:
Final pic.twitter.com/Jzl5gNfi0d
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 4, 2020
As poor a 2nd Half home collapse as I can remember a Kentucky team having
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 4, 2020
Really, really bad loss
This is a good basketball team but they'll have to try to sleep tonight after an awkward guy with a shoe string tied around his head went for 27 and a win in Rupp.
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) March 4, 2020
This has been a very frustrating half of basketball
— Hey Kentucky! (@hey_kentucky) March 4, 2020
The “this team needed a loss” crowd is quiet tonight.
— Travis Graf (@TravGraf_Rivals) March 4, 2020
The optimist in me hopes that this is the loss that sparks a tournament run. A wake up call like many UK fans have wanted.
— Brent Rainscott (@BrentWainscott_) March 4, 2020
Kentucky fans, at least there's this: https://t.co/fVNQDcfqYH
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 4, 2020
IMO, Kentucky ran Maxey at the point for the majority of the first half and they looked fantastic. Hagans plays at point majority of the second half and they got destroyed and couldn’t generate any offense.
— Ian Teasley (@ianteasley) March 4, 2020
First time Kentucky has ever lost a game while up by Double Digits at Halftime under John Calipari
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 4, 2020
finally people will stop asking john calipari about evansville.
— Chris Hatfield (@ChrisDHatfield) March 4, 2020
Kentucky's defensive focus is a disaster. No situational awareness in the second half. They shifted into cruise control at halftime.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) March 4, 2020
Deep breaths. Relax. Massive overreactions bombarding my feed. Your overall opinion of this team shouldn’t waiver THIS much for 15 mins of bad play.
— Big Blue Drew (@BigBlueDrew33) March 4, 2020
UK's three starting guards took the final 13 shots of the game for Kentucky — 4-for-13. Nick Richards' dunk with 8:16 left was his last attempt. Richards had 12 points (2/5 FGs) and 9 rebounds for the game.
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) March 4, 2020
Kentucky made 5 of 17 shots and turned it over six times in the final 11 minutes. Tennessee made 8 of 10 shots in the final 8 minutes.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 4, 2020
Kentucky has maybe the weirdest ranking/record/reputation dichotomy with KenPom that I can remember seeing. Losing to Tennessee at home kind of suggests the KenPom assessment is the correct one.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 4, 2020
Kentucky fans can get over one basketball loss, we'll live, but WE ARE ASKING TO BE MOCKED FOR THE CHECKERBOARD AND THERE IS NO COMEBACK FOR THE CHECKERBOARD https://t.co/iUAVIYQO66
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) March 4, 2020
Tyrese Maxey: 21 pts
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) March 4, 2020
Immanuel Quickley: 15 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 3 stls
Nick Richards: 12 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk
Ashton Hagans: 11 pts, 3 ast
Johnny Juzang: 6 pts, 3 reb
Keion Brooks: 4 pts
EJ Montgomery: 2 pts, 5 reb
Nate Sestina: 2 pts
A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and some other fun stuff, so be sure to go ‘like’ our Facebook page and then go follow us on Twitter. Got a link you think we should check out? Email us at seaofblue@gmail.com.