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Tuesday was a tough pill to swallow for Kentucky against archrival Tennessee, as the Vols erased a 17-point deficit to win 81-73 in the final game at Rupp Arena this season.
As painful as that night was, it’s not the end of the world. Far from it, in fact.
With one regular-season game left, as well as the SEC Tournament, there’s still time for Kentucky to get back on track before the NCAA Tournament begins, and John Calipari knows it.
On Thursday, Calipari sent a message to the Big Blue Nation on Twitter about Tuesday and moving past that dreaded night.
Just so everyone knows, when I walked off that court at half I thought, we’ve got a Final Four team. When I walked off after the game I thought, what the heck just happened? My mindset is focused on that first half & how we maintain that effort, that execution & that playmaking.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) March 5, 2020
Time to get back work!!!
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) March 5, 2020
There’s no question Kentucky looked every bit like a Final Four contender while building that 17-point lead. Unfortunately, the young Wildcats took their foot off the pedal and could never get momentum back once the Vols seized it.
All the Wildcats can do now is get back to work and do everything in their power to put themselves in position to win at Florida this Saturday, which would be a much-needed Quadrant I win.