When Teonni Key went down with a dislocated elbow during Kentucky’s SEC win over Missouri back on January 4, there was real concern about how long the Wildcats would be without one of their most important players. Key, a 6-foot-5 senior with a rare blend of size, skill, and defensive presence, had been a cornerstone for Kentucky on both ends of the floor. Her absence was felt immediately - Kentucky went 2-4 without her in the lineup.
But since her return on February 1 against Arkansas, Key has wasted no time reminding everyone just how vital she is to this team. In that game, she dropped 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 93-73 win - a solid performance that hinted she was getting back into rhythm. Then came Thursday night’s thriller against Vanderbilt, where Key didn’t just return to form - she elevated it.
In a narrow 84-83 loss, Key delivered a career night: 27 points on an ultra-efficient 11-for-15 shooting, 12 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in nearly 38 minutes of action. It was the kind of performance that grabs your attention not just because of the numbers, but because of the impact - she was everywhere.
Offensively, she was assertive and smooth. Defensively, her length altered shots and disrupted passing lanes.
Her presence was felt on every possession.
And she didn’t just earn the respect of her own locker room - she earned it from the other side, too. Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph couldn’t help but praise Key postgame, despite her team escaping with the win.
“I told Kenny [Brooks] before the game how happy I am that he got her back because that was a pretty tough injury that kid had,” Ralph said. “To be able to come back the way that she did and play the kind of basketball that she’s playing right now says a lot about her.”
Ralph, who knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity - having endured five ACL tears during her own playing career - spoke from a place of genuine admiration. She highlighted Key’s versatility and motor, noting how it felt like there were “three of her on the floor at times.”
“She’s bringing the ball up, then she got the rebound, how’s she over there getting a drive to the basket? It felt like she was all over the place,” Ralph added.
Key’s ability to do a little bit of everything - protect the rim, crash the boards, initiate offense, finish around the rim - is what makes her such a matchup nightmare. And with Kentucky heading into a major road test against No. 4 Texas on Monday night, her presence couldn’t be more crucial.
This isn’t just a comeback story. It’s a reminder of what Kentucky is capable of when Teonni Key is healthy and locked in. The Wildcats may have taken a tough loss against Vanderbilt, but with Key back in the mix and playing some of the best basketball of her career, their ceiling just got a whole lot higher.