Yesterday was packed with sports news. Between all the NFL trades, the college baseball tournament, and Milan Momcilovic announcing his commitment to Kentucky, there was a lot going on. With Momcilovic going to Kentucky and Tennessee bringing in a star-studded class, one thing that continues to stand out is how good the Tennessee-Kentucky basketball rivalry has become. Rick Barnes has elevated Tennessee into a national contender, and Kentucky is still one of the sport’s blue bloods. Recently their have been some fantastic games. Even last season, despite ending in heartbreak for Tennessee fans, featured a pair of unforgettable matchups.
Updated NBA Mock Draft reveals where Vols stand after withdrawal deadline
Adding Milan Momcilovic to the equation only makes this rivalry more intriguing. He’s one of the best players in college basketball, and his decision to join Kentucky is a major boost for the Wildcats.
That said, FanSided’s Busting Brackets updated its SEC rankings after the commitment, and Tennessee slipped a bit as a result. The Vols came in at No. 5 in the conference, while Kentucky surged to No. 2.
Tennessee basketball falls because of Momcilovic's Kentucky commitment
It’s really no surprise that Kentucky jumped in the rankings after adding Momcilovic. He’s one of the best players in college basketball and can do a variety of different things. He’s an elite shooter, can create his own offense, and scores at all three levels. He posted a stat line of 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists last year while shooting 48.7% from deep and 50.6% from the field. The scoring and efficiency numbers were off the charts, and he played in a defensive-minded system at Iowa State.
As much as it pains Tennessee fans to say it, Kentucky landed a star. That said, if there’s a silver lining, it’s that he didn’t end up at Florida, a team that already looks like one of the favorites nationally.
Sure, it does hit hard dropping in the p[reseoasn rankings after the addition, but also, Mark Pope will somehow screew this up. We've seen him have possibly even more talented teams and have lackluster results. I'm not too anxious about this. However, Momcilovic should, in theory, thrive in Pope's system, coming off screens and moving around the perimeter for open looks. Pope loves to play fast and chuck threes. This will fit in his game perfectly, which I don't love admitting.
On the other hand, Tennessee has built a roster that can compete with anyone in the country. Between Jalen Haralson, Juke Harris, Dai Dai Ames, Terrnece Hill, and more, Tennessee has the pieces to take down a team like Kentucky. Barnes was extremely aggressive in the transfer portal this offseason, and it paid off with what looks like an elite roster.
The Tennessee-Kentucky rivalry just got even more exciting with Momcilovic joining the Wildcats. But from Tennessee’s perspective, the focus doesn’t change. The Vols have bigger goals in mind, and regardless of who Kentucky brings in, Tennessee will be chasing a Final Four appearance next season.
Rick Barnes has built something different this season.
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