View From the Rowdies: The Kentucky Game

As I looked around Thompson-Boling Arena before UT’s date with #2 Kentucky, I was worried that it would become more of a neutral site because of all of the blue I was seeing. However, for 37 minutes of the game, those UK fans went unnoticed but Tennessee surprisingly was controlling the game in every aspect. The Vols led for the majority of the game and, at one point, was up by as many as 8 points. This changed quickly, however, when UK went off on a 13-3 run and seized control of the game.

I don’t know about you guys, but I hate morals victories and am sick and tired of having these “moral victories.” So I am not going to use those words to describe this game, but I will say that there is a ton to take away from a game like this one today. Let’s start with the most obvious and what all Tennessee fans are talking about right now: Jarnell Stokes. Where has he been all my life? From the moment he stepped on the court, all eyes were on him and he did not disappoint. Stokes finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds; all of them hard earned. The stats are one thing, but let’s talk about the intangibles. After only one game, I can already see just how smart of a basketball player this kid is. In the second half UK was consistently double teaming the post no matter who it was. Stokes did not act like an 18 year old when he saw the double coming. Every time it came he showed his great vision (which is hard to have down low) and find the open guy. One time it led to an easy shot for Kenny Hall and the other led to a old fashion 3-point play for Jeronne Maymon. How can you not be impressed by that? After the game, Coach Martin said the he was hoping to not play him until at least after the UConn game but “couldn’t keep him off the floor” because of his dedication in the film room and just how much he wanted to play. That shows me something. This Tennessee team needs a guy with a high basketball IQ, because let’s be honest, we make some stupid plays. But Jarnell Stokes makes us smarter and better. John Calipari said it himself after the game, “I don’t really care what their record is; they’re an NCAA tournament team. …Jarnell Stokes makes them way better, too.”

Remember this preseason? Remember when making the tournament seemed far fetched and, quite frankly, out of the question? It seemed that way to me at least. A friend of mine actually told me that he honestly believed that UT football would have more wins that UT basketball (we’re already passed that…. sigh). I’m not the biggest John Calipari fan in the world, but having him say that about this UT squad shows me just how good this team can be. To be able to go against a team like Kentucky with unbelievable length and quickness and control the tempo for pretty much the whole game with the group that Cuonzo Martin had out there makes me excited for the rest of this year and the years to come. There was no reason that UT should have been in this game. I was scared to death early because the Vols could not do anything down low because of that incredible Kentucky length. My biggest fear entering the game was that Anthony Davis would block everything that entered the paint. While he still had 4 blocks, Maymon, Stokes, and Hall did not back down. As a matter of fact, they embraced it. They went right at them every possession. If they got a foul or scored, they were pleased and if not, then they would go right back at it the next possession. They weren’t just battling anyone down there either. Terrance Jones and Anthony Davis could both be top 5 picks in next year’s NBA draft. They are the real deal.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Cuonzo Martin can coach. Tennessee lost this game because Kentucky was just a better team with all around better talent. It wasn’t because of any huge mistakes that they made or because they got dominated in one key aspect of the game. The only thing that really bothered me about today was UT not being able to cover the backdoor cut and one of the biggest reasons in because of UK’s speed. I guarantee you that Coach Martin will point that out in the film room tomorrow and it will be a point of emphasis in practice on Monday. Tennessee is a work in progress and we all know that. Coach Martin has this team going in the right direction and he even knows that. After the game he said, “This team is buying in. We can be really good.”