Kentucky Storms Back Again, Stuns Tennessee in Knoxville
Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats are making a habit of doing the improbable-and doing it on the road. Down by 17 points in hostile territory against a top-tier Tennessee squad, the Cats didn’t blink. They just got back to work, clawed their way out of the hole, and walked out of Knoxville with an 80-78 win that felt as gritty as it was improbable.
It’s becoming a theme. Kentucky has trailed by double digits in every road game this season.
In six of those seven contests, the deficit reached at least 16 points. And yet, somehow, they’ve now won two straight under those exact circumstances.
That’s not just resilience-it’s a team developing a real identity when the lights are brightest and the odds are longest.
“What it says about these guys’ resilience and toughness is that I hope nobody’s missing it,” Pope said after the win. And he’s right. This team doesn’t just hang around-they fight, they adjust, and they finish.
Second-Half Surge Turns the Tide
The second half was a roller coaster. Kentucky came out firing from deep, hitting six of their ten three-point attempts after halftime.
But each time they made a push, Tennessee answered. The Cats trimmed the lead to four multiple times, only to see the Vols reassert control.
It felt like they were chasing shadows-until the final minute.
That’s when the breakthrough came.
With the game hanging in the balance, Collin Chandler jumped a passing lane and sparked a fast break, feeding Otega Oweh for a tough And-One. He missed the free throw, but the Cats weren’t done.
They fought for the offensive board and converted a second-chance bucket to take a three-point lead with just 12 seconds left. That was the dagger.
Tennessee had one last shot, but it wasn’t enough. Kentucky held on for the win-their fourth straight in Knoxville.
Numbers That Tell the Story
Let’s break down a few key stats that highlight just how wild this win was:
- 4 - Straight wins for Kentucky in Knoxville. That’s not easy to do in one of the SEC’s toughest venues.
- 6 - Wins in the last seven games at Tennessee’s Food City Center.
- 1:44 - The total time Kentucky led in both the Tennessee and LSU wins combined.
Talk about late-game execution.
- 9 - Years since a team pulled off back-to-back road wins after trailing by 15+ points.
The last to do it? FAU in 2017.
- 2 - Coach’s challenges won by Mark Pope. Both were crucial.
Dominating the Glass When It Mattered Most
For much of the first half, Tennessee owned the boards. At one point, ESPN’s Dan Shulman noted that Kentucky’s first offensive rebound came well into the second half. But when the Cats needed it most, they flipped the switch.
Kentucky grabbed 14 offensive rebounds in the second half alone-none in the first-and turned those extra chances into 19 second-chance points. Mo Dioubate was relentless, pulling down four offensive boards and giving Kentucky the kind of grit and hustle that doesn’t always show up in the box score but absolutely changes games.
Tensions Flare After the Final Buzzer
As the final horn sounded, emotions boiled over. Tennessee players didn’t take the loss lightly, and some postgame pushing and shoving broke out.
Mark Pope quickly stepped in to separate his players-specifically Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison-from the fray. Cooler heads prevailed, and the skirmish didn’t escalate.
The real fireworks were saved for the locker room, where Kentucky celebrated another come-from-behind road win.
Standout Performances from the Backcourt
While this was a team win through and through, a couple of guards deserve special mention.
Jasper Johnson, the freshman who’s still finding his role, provided a crucial lift in the first half. Kentucky went seven minutes without a field goal, and it was Johnson who snapped the drought. He poured in all 12 of his points before halftime and helped keep the game within reach.
Then came Denzel Aberdeen. Just like he did in Baton Rouge, the sophomore guard was electric after the break. He scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, including a series of midrange floaters that kept pressure on Tennessee’s defense and gave Kentucky the spark they needed to pull off the comeback.
Around the SEC and NFL: Deone Walker Makes His Presence Felt
While Kentucky was making noise on the hardwood, a former Wildcat was doing the same on the NFL stage.
Deone Walker, now suiting up for the Buffalo Bills, made a huge play in the AFC Divisional Round. With Buffalo trailing by 13 in the third quarter, the rookie defensive lineman jumped a passing lane and picked off Bo Nix, giving the Bills prime field position deep in Denver territory. It was a momentum-shifting moment that helped spark a comeback.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, Josh Allen gave one back with a pick of his own, and despite a furious rally-including a game-tying field goal in the final seconds-the Bills fell short in overtime, 33-30. Denver, now without their starting quarterback, will host the AFC Championship Game next weekend.
Elsewhere in the playoffs, Seattle opened the nightcap with a kick return touchdown and never looked back in an NFC West rout. Sunday’s Divisional slate features two more big matchups:
- 3:00 PM ET - Texans (+3) at Patriots (ESPN)
- 6:30 PM ET - Rams (-3.5) at Bears (NBC)
Kentucky Women’s Basketball Hits the Road Again
The seventh-ranked Wildcats are back in action after surviving a scare against Florida on Thursday. They trailed by six heading into the fourth quarter but outscored the Gators 28-16 down the stretch to secure the win.
Now, it’s another SEC road test-this time at Mississippi State. Kentucky enters the game as one of the nation’s top three-point shooting teams, averaging 9.1 made threes per game, good for a top-20 national ranking. If they can keep the hot shooting going, they’ll be tough to beat in Starkville.
Tip-off is set for 3 PM ET, and the game will be streamed on SECN+.
Bottom Line: Mark Pope’s Wildcats are proving they’re never out of a game-not on the road, not down double digits, not ever. And with a backcourt that’s starting to come alive and a team that knows how to finish, Kentucky is suddenly looking like a dangerous team heading into the heart of SEC play.