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Tennessee basketball: Five best things about Vols’ dominant win vs. Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) with a dunk during the NCAA college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.Px Uthoops Kentucky
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) with a dunk during the NCAA college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.Px Uthoops Kentucky /
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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) is guarded by Kentucky forward Keion Brooks Jr. (12) during the NCAA college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.Px Uthoops KentuckySyndication The Knoxville News Sentinel
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) is guarded by Kentucky forward Keion Brooks Jr. (12) during the NCAA college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.Px Uthoops KentuckySyndication The Knoxville News Sentinel /

4. Rivalry factor

Beyond just getting revenge, all elements of Tennessee basketball’s rivalry were on display in the game Tuesday night. It actually started early. John Fulkerson fell out of bounds by the Kentucky bench pulling off a save for the Vols, who were trailing 17-15. Zakai Zeigler went to help Fulky up. UK strength coach Robert Harris then shoved Zeigler, starting a fight.

Somehow, a technical was called on both sides, which Rick Barnes heavily criticized since it was clearly instigated by Kentucky. Either way, though, that play was just the spark the Vols needed, as they went on a 17-1 run to take complete control after that.

With them in control in the second half, the fans got involved. They changed “Just like football” at one point, a reference to the football team beating the Wildcats and controlling the series for the last 40-plus years. There was also an “overrated” chant.

Finally, there are the implications of this win for Rocky Top. Now, the Vols have scored a win against Kentucky all seven years Barnes has been their head coach. In the two seasons they played each other three times, 2018 and 2019, UT won two of the games. Barnes still has John Calipari’s number, and he proved it again in this one.

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