Tennessee basketball: Kentucky loss doesn’t end National title hopes for Vols

Tennessee basketball is coming off a 17 point beatdown at the hands of Kentucky. But, the loss doesn’t end National title hopes for the Vols.

Rupp Arena played host to a top-five between two SEC teams, something that hasn’t happened in fifteen years. However, it didn’t live up to the billing, or at least the Tennessee basketball team didn’t.

Kentucky humbled the Vols.

They outplayed them on both ends of the court. The Cats played with more heart and frankly, wanted it more than any player in orange. They ‘out-Tennessee’d,’ Tennessee. And, that is something that doesn’t happen often.

The Vols will undoubtedly drop from the number one spot in the polls as they should. They didn’t look like the number one team in the nation on Saturday night, that was Kentucky. But, that doesn’t mean the season is over.

The date is February 17, 2019, the Vols have an overall record of 23-2 and are tied at the top of the SEC standings with LSU with a conference record of 11-1. Ask any Tennessee fan before the season if they would take a 23-2 record through the first 25 games and 100 percent would say yes.

What does the loss mean for the Vols chances to win a National Championship?

Absolutely nothing.

Tennessee still has as good of a chance as any other team in the nation.

Kentucky opened their season with a 34 point loss to the Duke Blue Devils. Speaking of Duke, they lost to an unranked Syracuse team in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Gonzaga, who beat Duke in the Championship Game of the Maui Invitational, lost to North Carolina by 13 points, who lost by 21 to Louisville. And, oh, by the way, Tennessee beat both Gonzaga and Louisville.

That same North Carolina team also lost by 17 points to Michigan, who lost by 15 points to Iowa. Finally, the Nevada Wolfpack only has one loss on the season, but it was by 27 points to an 11-14 New Mexico team.

Losses happen in college sports. Heck, losses occur in any sport.

Only five of the past fifteen NCAA Tournament Champions lost their last game of the year in February. In fact, over half of the previous fifteen Champions lost a game March 10th or after.

2017- North Carolina, March 10th

2016- Villanova, March 12th

2015- Duke, March 13th

2014- Connecticut, March 15th

2012- Kentucky, March 11th

2009- North Carolina, March 14th

2005- North Carolina, March 12th

Yeah, but what about losing by 17 points? 17 points!

That’s an excellent question, 17 points is an absolute butt-kicking.

But, again losses happen.

Nine of the past fifteen NCAA Tournament winners had a loss by ten points or more. In fact, six teams had a loss by at least 15 points.

2017- North Carolina, 15 points

2016- Villanova, 23 points

2015- Duke, 16 points

2014- Connecticut, 33 points

2011- Connecticut, 17 points

2004- Connecticut, 16 points

To further my case, nine of the past twelve Final Four teams dropped a game by double digits at some point during their season.

The 17 point loss to Kentucky was bad. It was terrible.

However, Tennessee’s season isn’t over. There is still a lot of basketball left to play, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Vols are named National Champs come April.