Vols Roar Past No. 25 Kentucky, 88-58

  • Saturday, February 16, 2013
  • special report to chattanoogan.com

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee posted its largest win ever against Kentucky with a 88-58 dismantling of the defending national champions before a sold-out Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday.

Tennessee (14-10 overall) won its third game in a row and evened its record in the SEC at 6-6.

Kentucky, playing without freshman standout Nerlens Noel, fell to 17-8 overall and 8-4 in the league.

Junior guard Trae Golden poured in SEC career-high with 24 and handed out eight assists without a turnover. Golden was 11-of-12 from the foul line. Junior Jordan McRae scored 15 and Kenny Hall, who sat out last game, returned with 12 points.

Sophomore Jarnell Stokes fell short of his seventh consecutive double-double as he finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

The previous largest of victory in the series with Kentucky, which dates to 1910, was a 28-point win, 87-59 on Jan. 22, 1968.

For Kentucky head coach John Calipari, the game marked the largest loss of his college coaching career since his first season as a head coach at UMass in 1988-89. The largest loss of Calipari's career came in an 88-55 defeat (33 points) on Feb. 16, 1989. He also lost by 31 and 30 that season.

The Vols beat a defending national champion for the eighth time in 11 games.

 

Tennessee knocked off a ranked team for the second time this season with the other win coming against No. 23 Wichita State on Dec. 13. It was also the fifth win over a ranked for the Vols under Cuonzo Martin with three coming last season. That also included a win over a defending national champion as the Vols topped UConn on Jan. 21, 2012.

 

For the Vols, the 88 points were their most of the season, surpassing 83 vs. UMass on Nov. 18, 2012.

 

The Vols were a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range including three treys by Skylar McBee.

Tennessee led by as many as 39 in the game with 2:28 left in regulation as D'Montre Edwards made a pair of free throws on technical foul free throws. That put UT ahead, 86-47.

It was a very chippy and physical game as four technical fouls were called, three on the Wildcats and one on the Vols' Brandon Lopez in the final minutes.

 

A wild first half saw the Vols build a 50-26 lead at halftime. It was the most points the Vols scored in a first half of an SEC game since Feb. 27, 2007, when they led Florida, 50-31. The +24 margin was the largest since leading LSU by +32 (50-18) on Jan. 4, 1999.

Tennessee went on a 13-0 run over four minutes to expand its lead from 22-12 to 35-12 on a pair of Josh Richardson free throws with 7:22 left in the first half.

 

Kentucky's assistant coach John Robic was ejected from the game with 11:17 left in the first half. It came on the heels of a controversial alternate possession that happened seconds earlier. That call led to a 3-pointer by McBee, which gave the Vols a 22-10 lead with 12:53 left in the first half.

 

The Vols return to action on Tuesday night as LSU comes to Thompson-Boling Arena at 7 p.m.

 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Kentucky 17-8, 8-4 SEC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
15 Cauley-Stein, Willie f  1-4    0-0    0-0    2  0  2   5   2  1  4  2  1  23
33 Wiltjer, Kyle....... f  5-15   2-5    6-6    2  4  6   1  18  0  2  1  0  28
05 Polson, Jarrod...... g  3-4    1-1    4-4    2  2  4   4  11  0  1  0  1  22
10 Goodwin, Archie..... g  2-9    0-1    3-5    1  1  2   3   7  4  4  0  1  34
34 Mays, Julius........ g  4-10   3-7    1-2    0  1  1   1  12  3  2  0  0  39
04 Hood, Jon...........    2-5    0-1    0-0    3  0  3   0   4  0  0  0  0  15
12 Harrow, Ryan........    0-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   5   0  0  1  0  0  18
21 Lanter, Tod.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
22 Poythress, Alex.....    2-4    0-0    0-1    1  1  2   5   4  0  1  0  0  20
   TEAM................                         1     1   1
   Totals..............   19-53   6-15  14-18  12  9 21  25  58  8 15  3  3 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  9-27 33.3%   2nd Half: 10-26 38.5%   Game: 35.8%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  4-9  44.4%   Game: 40.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  6-6  100 %   2nd Half:  8-12 66.7%   Game: 77.8%    2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Tennessee 14-10, 6-6 SEC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
05 Stokes,Jarnell...... f  3-10   0-0    3-5    3  6  9   4   9  1  4  2  1  20
52 McRae,Jordan........ f  6-11   1-1    2-2    2  4  6   2  15  3  5  3  2  34
01 Richardson,Josh..... g  1-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   2  1  1  0  0  13
04 Moore,Armani........ g  4-5    0-0    0-1    1  5  6   5   8  1  1  1  3  24
11 Golden,Trae......... g  6-8    1-1   11-12   1  2  3   1  24  8  0  0  0  29
00 Makanjuola,Yemi.....    0-1    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   1   1  0  1  0  0   4
03 Reese,Derek.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  0  0  0  0   5
13 McBee,Skylar........    3-3    3-3    0-0    0  1  1   1   9  0  0  0  0  27
15 Murphy,Rob..........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  2  0  0   2
20 Hall,Kenny..........    3-6    0-0    6-7    4  0  4   0  12  0  0  0  1  17
24 Lopez,Brandon.......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   8
31 Chievous,Quinton....    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   3   0  0  0  0  0   9
32 Edwards,D'Montre....    3-5    0-0    2-2    0  2  2   0   8  0  0  0  0   8
   TEAM................                         4  2  6             1
   Totals..............   29-50   5-5   25-31  15 24 39  21  88 14 15  6  7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-30 56.7%   2nd Half: 12-20 60.0%   Game: 58.0%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-4  100 %   2nd Half:  1-1  100 %   Game: 100 %   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 12-15 80.0%   2nd Half: 13-16 81.3%   Game: 80.6%    3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Doug Shows, Mark Whitehead, Brian Shey
Technical fouls: Kentucky-Cauley-Stein, Willie; Goodwin, Archie; TEAM.
Tennessee-Lopez,Brandon.
Attendance: 21678
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Kentucky......................   26   32  -   58
Tennessee.....................   50   38  -   88
UK assistant John Robic ejected at 11:17 in first half.

Points in the paint-UK 22,UT 40. Points off turnovers-UK 22,UT 24.
2nd chance points-UK 13,UT 19. Fast break points-UK 0,UT 6.
Bench points-UK 8,UT 30. Score tied-3 times. Lead changed-2 times.
Last FG-UK 2nd-00:03, UT 2nd-01:47.
Largest lead-UK by 2 1st-18:38, UT by 39 2nd-02:28.

 


TENNESSEE TIDBITS

• The 30-point victory for the Vols marks UT's all-time biggest victory over the Wildcats.
• Tennessee snaps a six-game losing streak to the Wildcats and cuts the all-time series deficit to 149-67.
• The victory also marks the second over a ranked opponent this season. The Vols beat 23rd-ranked Wichita State, 69-60, on Dec. 13, 2012.
• The win also ensures the Vols of their 18th-consecutive season with at least 10 victories at home.
• The Vols went a perfect 5-of-5 from the 3-point line against the Wildcats, including three from Skylar McBee.
• Coach Cuonzo Martin picks up his first-career win over Kentucky head coach John Calipari and hands him his biggest loss at UK in the process.
• Now with 67, no program in college basketball has recorded more wins over Kentucky than Tennessee.
• Today's attendance was a capacity crowd at 21,678. Tennessee entered the contest ranked eighth nationally in average home attendance (16,686). Dating back to the 2005-06 season, UT has now played in front of 49 home crowds greater than 20,000.

 

FOR STARTERS

• The Vols started the same five as the win at Vanderbilt, sending guards Trae Golden, Jordan McRae, Josh Richardson andArmani Moore to the floor, in addition to sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes. This starting lineup is now 2-0.
• Richardson and Stokes are the only two Vols to start every game this season.
• UT forward Jarnell Stokes netted the first points of the game for the Vols, hitting one free throw 58 seconds into the contest.Jordan McRae scored the first UT field goal, a floater 1:47 into the opening half.
• Senior guard Skylar McBee was the first to check in for Tennessee, coming in with 16:14 remaining in the first half.
• Stokes, reigning SEC Player of the Week, had his six-game double-double streak snapped. Stokes finished just shy with nine points and nine rebounds.

 

VOLS' LARGEST WINS OVER UK

• +30 Vols 88, Kentucky 58 February 16, 2013
• +28 Vols 87, Kentucky 59 January 22, 1968
• +22 Vols 107, Kentucky 85 January 21, 1992
• +20 Vols 30, Kentucky 10 March 3, 1917
• +19 Vols 77, Kentucky 58 January 16, 1965
**All in Knoxville

 

TENNESSEE VS. NATIONAL CHAMPS

• With the win, Tennessee extends its winning streak over the defending national championships to five-straight games at home. Overall, UT has defeated the defending NCAA Champions in eight of its last 11 attempts.
• At Thompson-Boling Arena, the Vols improve to 5-1 against the defending national champions.

 

TENNESSEE VS. RANKED TEAMS

• The victory marks the second over a ranked opponent this season. The Vols beat 23rd-ranked Wichita State, 69-60, on Dec. 13, 2012.
• It's the fifth ranked win for the Vols under Cuonzo Martin.

 

CAL'S WORST LOSS AT UK

• Head coach Cuonzo Martin and the Vols handed Kentucky head coach John Calipari his worst loss since taking over the Wildcats in 2009-10. Prior to today's 30-point loss, Calipari's worst loss at UK was a 84-67 defeat to UConn on Nov. 24, 2010 at the Maui Invitational. Calipari and the Wildcats also lost to Florida by 17 (69-52) just four days ago.

 

CAL'S WORST LOSSES

• Tennessee now leads the all-time series against Mississippi State, 76-41, including a 44-10 mark in Knoxville.
• -33 West Virginia 88, UMass 55 Feb. 16, 1989
• -31 Duquesne 105, UMass 74 Feb. 18, 1989
• -30 Tennessee 88, Kentucky 58 Feb. 16, 2013
• -30 Penn State 109, UMass 79 Jan. 5, 1989
• -29 UConn 104, UMass 75 Jan. 30, 1989
• -27 Temple 93, UMass 66 Jan. 24, 1989
**All five games at UMass came in Calipari's first year
• To note, Calipari's worst loss during his tenure at Memphis (2000-2009), was a 23-point loss against Stanford (83-60) on Nov. 24, 2000.

 

MOST POINTS IN A HALF

• The Vols netted 50 points in the opening half against the Wildcats, marking their most points in any half this season and the most in a first half of a SEC game since scoring 50 against Florida on Feb. 27, 2007.
• Today's 24-point halftime lead was the largest in a SEC contest since leading LSU, 50-18, on Jan. 6, 1999. The Vols went on to win, 93-58.
• With 40 at Vanderbilt, it's the first time recording back-to-back 40-point first halves this season in all games. In SEC play, it's the first time UT has scored back-to-back 40-point first halves since netting 41 at Florida (2/11/12) and 47 against Arkansas (2/15/12).

 

MOST POINTS THIS SEASON

• The Vols' 88-point outburst is the most points scored for Tennessee this season. UT had 83 against UMass (11/18/12). It's the most since the Vols netted 97 points in a 99-97 double-overtime loss to then-No. 8 Memphis on Nov. 22, 2011. It's the most in regulation since UT scored 92 in a 92-63 win over UNC Greensboro on Nov. 11, 2011.

 

GOLDEN GAME

• Tennessee point guard Trae Golden finished with 24 points against the Wildcats, marking a career-best for the junior in SEC play. It's the eighth career 20-point game for Golden and the second this season. He scored 25 in a win over Wichita State (12/13/12).
• Golden also led the Vols with eight assists and committed zero turnovers against Big Blue.

 

MCBEE FOR THREE

• Senior guard Skylar McBee went 3-for-3 from 3-point range against the rival Wildcats.
• Tennessee improves to 5-0 when McBee hits at least three 3-point buckets.
• UT is 16-2 when McBee scores 10 or more.
• McBee is now eight shy of breaking into UT's all-time top-10 list for 3-pointers made. He currently has 147 on his career.

 

DOUBLE-FIGURE FELLAS

• Tennessee guards Trae Golden and Jordan McRae both reached double-figures in the opening half against the Wildcats. Golden led the Vols with 24 points, while McRae finished the game with 15.
• It's the 12th double-digit performance of the season for Golden and the 16th of the season for McRae.
• Vol forward Kenny Hall joined the double-figure crew in the second half. Hall finished with 12 points.

 

TAKING CHARGE

Skylar McBee drew the first charge of the game with 10:27 remaining in the opening half. It was McBee's fifth of the season and the 11th charge taken of his career.
Kenny Hall drew the second charge of the game for the Vols with 3:46 remaining in the opening period. Hall is tied for the team lead with 10 drawn charges this season.
Jordan McRae took the Vols' third charge of the game with 9:43 to go in the second half. It was the third of the season for McRae.
• Tennessee, which has had 11 players draw charges this campaign, now has drawn 42 on the season.
• The Vols are now averaging 1.75 charges per game this season.

 

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH

• Tennessee had two dunks on Saturday.
• 1st Half
• 17:12 - Jarnell Stokes on a fastbreak following a steal
• 00:10 - Kenny Hall two-handed in the lane
• With one dunk each, Stokes and Hall are now tied for the team lead in the category with 16.

 

AT THE HALF

• After 20 minutes of play, UT held a commanding 50-26 lead on the Wildcats.
• The Vols shot 56.7 percent in the opening frame as Trae Golden and Jordan McRae led the way with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
• Tennessee dominated down low, outrebounding UK, 20-13, and out-scoring the Wildcats, 18-12 in the first period.
• The Vols forced 10 UK turnovers and turned them into 20 points. UT out-scored Kentucky, 20-6, in points off turnovers.
• UT used a 13-0 run in the opening half and held Kentucky scoreless for 4:21.
• Under Coach Martin, the Vols improve to 25-6 in games they led at the half.

 

UP NEXT

• Tennessee will play LSU for the first and only matchup of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
• The Vols will host the Tigers at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

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