Tennessee basketball vs. Kentucky: Ranking Vols 5 wins at Rupp Arena
2. Jan. 12, 1999
It’s always mind-boggling how Jerry Green was so hated in Knoxville. He had the most successful four-year run in program history before Bruce Pearl got there, and he was an East Tennessee product. Oh, and there were numerous amazing wins, this one being at the top.
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Tennessee basketball entered this season ranked in the top 10 after an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998 for the first time in a decade, their whole team back and the addition of top-notch recruit Vincent Yarbrough. But a disappointing 8-3 start in non-conference play had them out of the top 25 by the time SEC play began.
After a loss to the Auburn Tigers to open SEC play, the Vols won their next two, entering Rupp Arena with a 10-4 record and 2-1 SEC record but still outside of the Top 25. The Kentucky Wildcats, meanwhile, were defending national champions and very much in the picture again with a 14-3 record, a 3-0 SEC record and a No. 6 ranking.
On top of that, the Vols had not won in Rupp Arena in 20 years at this point, so the odds were significantly stacked against them. However, the magic of Tennessee football’s national championship less than 10 days earlier crept in.
In a horrifically bad defensive struggle, the Vols just outworked Kentucky in the final minute. Brandon Wharton missed a three-pointer while down 46-44, but the Vols got an offensive rebound, and then he hit the second one. After that, up 47-46 with 66 seconds left, Green’s defense won the game.
The Vols stopped Kentucky’s next drive, Isiah Victor got the rebound. But in a terrible whistle, the refs called him for traveling, which happened because he was pushed. Dick Vitale said as much during the broadcast. So Kentucky got another shot. Still, they got another stop, only to see C.J. Black miss the front end of a one-and-one. So UK got a third chance.
After another missed shot, the Vols fumbled the rebound out of bounds. With 10 seconds left, on Kentucky’s fourth chance in the final minute, the Vols’ defense held again, as they stopped two layups in the final seconds to hold on 47-46.
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It was one of the greatest defensive stands in school history. Tennessee basketball would go on to sweep the Wildcats that year and win the SEC East while clinching a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament, winning their first NCAA Tournament game in 16 years. But this was the game that gave them all the momentum they needed.