2018-2019 Kentucky vs Tennessee (Game 25)

thank you very much and as you mentioned this is a sonic blockbuster here on ESPN and what a big-time matchup in a big-time environment we've got for you tonight with number five Kentucky hosting number one Tennessee a school that has won 19 in a row they are talented they are experienced they are confident and they're here with a big blue nation we're gonna pull off a win on the road tonight they're a game up on LSU for top spot of the SEC Kentucky two games back Tennessee hi everybody and welcome to Lexington Dan Schulman J bill has so many fascinating aspects and matchups in this game let's start with a fact that one of these teams is a whole lot more experienced Jay Bilas than the other well Tennessee's the number one team in the country and large measure because they do have talent but they are an older team they're made up of juniors and seniors that have been through it together that means they're like an old school team that was constructed like in the 80s or 90s when guys stuck around Kentucky more the new school team where their freshmen and sophomores they rely upon their younger player will experience dominate or will tell it playing at home dominate that's really the issue in this game and if we look at one specific matchup in this game it's hard to not look at grant Williams on one side he Jay Washington on the other that's the marquee matchup Brandt Williams the reigning SEC Player of the Year from Tennessee he's a junior averaging about 19 points per game he's fantastic in the middle of the floor commands a double-team and excellent passing out of that double-team at PJ Washington for Kentucky is having terrific seasons especially over the last seven games he's averaging 21 points almost nine rebounds per game over that seven-game stretch including shooting over 50% from the field and 50% from 3:11 in his last 22 you don't want to be a big guy who's accused of ignoring guards though so let's talk for the point guard matchup as well well I think it's going to be an excellent match up Jordan bone I think is the best point guard in the Southeastern Conference he's got a very low error rate is assists turnover rate is over 3 to 1 and he is leading the SEC in assists over six and a half per game he's accounting for it was assistant his scoring about 30 33 percent of the volunteers scoring and Ashton Hagan who has not played well his last few games he has struggled a bit but he's such a great defender he's going to have to get up and into Jordan bones and try to make him turn his back make it difficult for Tennessee to advance the ball up the floor cos Tennessee wants to get out in transition so they can get the ball to grant Williams early before he can beat double-team just moments away from tip Maria Taylor is with the head coach all right so she got a win in the arena before what is required of your team to have success against Kentucky tonight just play good fastball transition defense rebound the ball and take care of the ball I think and Rick Barnes boy he's got a barge his way back into his own huddle back to the head interview with Maria the balls are ready to go the cats are ready to go let's take a look at tonight's sonic blockbuster in anticipation of this matchup between Tennessee and Kentucky their first of two regular season meetings the Vols are on the longest winning streak in school history their only loss came to Kansas in November in overtime on a neutral court Kentucky 11 and 3 all-time at home and top five matchups this is the 11th time there's been an SEC matchup with both programs ranked in the top five Kentucky sinned in all eleven of them over the years [Music] [Applause] [Music] as Jay mention a very experienced crew juniors and seniors for Tennessee not a group that is going to be intimidated in any way shape or form by anything that they see as mentioned their only loss was to Kansas this is the third time in Tennessee program history that they've been in a top five matchup both programs in the top five member they beat Memphis back in 2008 coach Cal was the coach of Memphis back then kentucky's got more history against the number one voted 1715 all-time there's a whole lot of noisy blue but you know what there's a bit more orange than I thought there would be in this building here tonight not in that section the Vols have traveled it's been 85 days since Tennessee has lost a game and they are ready to play we are ready for the tip of our sonic blockbuster and the tip is controlled by the cats let us see playing man the man and grant Williams starting off on PJ Washington they're gonna try to get grant Williams in foul trouble early and it's Washington who is called for the foul really nice job they isolated PJ Washington at the free-throw line he drove right and grant Williams just moved his feet stayed right in front that was an excellent call he had legal guarding position he could move to maintain it I took all of 15 seconds for Big Blue Nation to be upset with the officials but I agree with you 100% he did a great job defending on that play and see if Tennessee with Williams being covered by Travis Washington is on Alexander Williams turns it over the matchup between bone and Hagen's is a huge one for this game Hagen spends off the defender but couldn't finish the layup animal Schofield got knocked down a little bit slow getting out bone and lofts it up in E in his Tennessee strikes first now that didn't seem like a fast break but it was transition a quick outlet pass at Jordan bone one of the speedier guards in the country but he's changing speeds in the last couple years he's done a great job of using his speed when it's necessary and then changing speeds this really keep defenders off-balance and what really what Tennessee does is they'll get three guys along the baseline and they'll flatten out on a transition defense then boom just picks his fast he's like newstime Alexander there as a little brush screen got past them and very casually made that easy bucket we mentioned Admiral Schofield got knocked down he is going to the bench right now as Jordan Bowden it comes in to take his place and Schofield is getting a little bit of attention and we get some kind of report we'll let you know as soon as we can about what the status of Schofield is he has not gone all the way back to the locker room standing near the corner of the court the three for Washington who is shooting the ball very well from beyond the arc he's at 43% on the season and really especially over the last seven games shooting over 50% from three-point range he did not hesitate he talked about a guy who made a good decision to come back for his sophomore year is really taking his game up a notch by our hero guarding lamonta Turner that's another important matchup hero much bigger tile Alexander the senior and Washington got a piece of that not the best shots for Tennessee just because you catch the ball doesn't mean you can shoot it Nero with a crossover Hagen's not as much of an offensive threat perhaps as quickly his backup at a superior defensive player Washington feeling it not this time on the three good blockout by grant Williams and Williams is fronting when he's guarding Reed Travis Bowen again lost it on the way up deflected though when it stays with Tennessee and let's see if we can get a look at what happened to Admiral Schofield a couple of trips back ran in his own guy I ran into Alexander [Applause] and banitsa lamonta turner who hit a huge shot in this building last year and what was ultimately a two-point win for the ball's bone got his man in the air off the back of the iron I think Jordan bone is the best point guard in the Southeastern Conference he's having a spectacular season and he's a koozie Award finalist one of the 10 finalists for the best point guard in the nation and Tennessee really pressuring and try to push Kentucky a little bit further out on the floor Washington over Alexander with a good start for PJ Washington and single coverage in the post Tennessee not coming with a double and one on one in the post the hardest thing in basketball to guard PJ Washington showing he can go inside and out makes him a really difficult matchup shot clock running down on Tennessee down to seven step-back by Turner not there and Travis down with a rebound for the cats really good defense by Tyler here Oh Delvin Johnson against his first touch of the night he's got bounded on him and now Higgins up top is John Calipari calls out of play that was a nice job by Tennessee to get back in transition hero trying to penetrate kick to the corner Washington with a drive and a foul called on Alexander PJ Washington getting the ball in the low post he looks in the middle to see if a doubles coming and just paused for poise in the post and then went right in for that little jump hook over the outstretched arms of the defender that was just excellent post play by PJ Washington I like that alliteration I think you should patent paused for poise pause destroys in the post a lot of alliteration from anxious analyst PJ Washington is Jay mentioned hot lately 20 or more points in six of his last seven games and a good sign for Tennessee as Admiral Schofield is back in the game well Jordan Bowden is really the best shooter I believe on this Tennessee roster but you'd have a hard time arguing that he's been shooting his better than Admiral Schofield this year he's got a little bit better of a percentage 50/50 ball goes to Kentucky [Applause] Travis barreling his way into the paint lost it and it belongs to Tennessee [Applause] the Tennessee needs to get the ball to grant Williams he's a very good passer get him the ball in the elbow he's being guarded by Travis here comes Scofield off the screen elevates and knocks it down and when grant Williams is used as a screener he draws a lot of attention and Admiral Scofield can rise up so quickly shoots in the mid-range shoot from three-point range 66 and 240 pounds to four Scofield this is not a long and tall frontcourt for Tennessee but they are wide and they are really good players Washington again he's got all seven for the cats not sure there's a more confident player in the SEC right now the PJ Washington and a sloppy possession right now for Tennessee but it'll be out of bounds to the Vols when we come back and when we come back a little bit more inside the Tennessee program we'll take a look at how grant Williamson Avro Schofield change their bodies over the last three years [Music] ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is presented by h-e-b are online block has your back and impart by Cadillac [Music] Saturday primetime presented by H&R block you're watching the SEC on ESPN coach a little bit about grant Williams Admiral Schofield how they have transformed themselves in the last few years Murray Taylor has more well then they've really worked very hard on their fitness to change their body so that they can be elite players on the floor for grant Williams she showed up at about 265 he said he was a Rollie pollie that's how he described himself got about 18 percent body fat and since then he's got him down to 10 percent body fat he's lost close to 30 pounds and he says his movement is much better the same thing goes for Admiral Schofield who showed up he's about 63 pounds he's lost about 20 he was 15 percent body fat a look at the change there now he's at 6 percent body fat and the goal weight for them was about 10 percent body fat because that's what NBA locker rooms are looking for so they were doing three a days for a days with their shrink the conditioning coach here at Medwin until they got their body into the shape that they wanted to be in and now they still hold each other accountable sitting one another pictures of their actual meals so they're fit nothing Andrew I'm Marie Thank You great story a story from Rick Barnes when Williams was a freshman his mom sent him like 50 bags of buttered popcorn Barnes intercepted the package knew what it was wouldn't let Williams have any of it put Williams on the treadmill and then walked up behind him eating the popcorn while the poor kid was a nice guy that coach Barnes gets his point across well you could tell when Williams got the ball back in the post when he threw all that attention he passed out of the post to Lamont a Turner got a wide-open three just didn't knock it down but anytime he gets double coverage he can pass over people he's an excellent passer especially from the high post Emmanuel quickly EJ Montgomery in off the bench for Kentucky town of Fulkerson has come in now for tennis seeds both teams about eight deep Eldon Johnson baseline floater Wow tough shot Kentucky running that set where they run a cutter off the elbows and then they'll get a little pin down screen on the other side they ran that almost exclusively against LSU Williams knocks down a three that is his 10th made three on the season three Travis just not used to guarding a big guy out there is a trailer he usually waits for him to get to the free-throw line meets him there he's gonna have to pick him up a little higher [Applause] Montgomery giving Kentucky some Gouda minutes lately a lot of rebounding when he's in the game quickly turn turns it over on a travel grant Williams coming down the floor as a trailer and Reed Travis that's his assignment but he's in the lane waiting for him to come down and come into the low post or get near the elbow the free throw line where he likes to operate and instead he just pulls the trigger on an easy step in free Williams gets a breather Jordan bone has come back into the game one thing you know about this Tennessee team dead even in a difficult atmosphere here at Rupp Arena this team is not going to panic oh now they've been here before is there a is there a high major team that combines the mental toughness and the physical toughness to the degree that Tennessee does that's a good question I don't I don't know that I've thought about it that way I don't know and nothing comes to mind I mean these guys are all juniors and seniors that have been there before and as we saw they've been in the weight room as well Johnson was a runner no fulkerson keeps it alive Nick Richards down with the rebound like Johnny went down yard and Ron Gruber blows the whistle to give Johnson a chance to get up and good to see him get up so quickly after he hit the deck so hard [Applause] I'm sure where they got hit by his own guy but went up and stretched out got knocked off balance when Johnson had got off to such a great start but the last four games he's averaging about twelve points a game that only 15 of 42 from the field not as efficient as he has been everybody getting a touch on this possession for the Wildcats still lots of time well continuity ball screens slip action than a ball screen here lob for Richards and Schofield broke it up only to see Montgomery finish it but it was well read by Admiral Schofield he broke up the play but nobody else from Tennessee converged on the ball this is a small Tennessee line up right now with bone Bowden and turner all in the game bounded misses the three great rebound by hero where this is a physical game already cutters being pumped that little stagger way Tyler Hiro just blew it up physically richart's and draws the foul Kentucky is getting the ball inside and attacking the paint Tennessee a couple times is settled for jump shots but they've got to figure out a way to get to the rim because right now it's been all Kentucky in the paint Kentucky lost that game controversial fashion remember the the tip in that was allowed was not ruled a basket interference the game against LSU on Tuesday Kentucky has not lost two home games in a row in the John Calipari era here is the play J that it was the talk of college basketball Tuesday night yeah clearly that was basket interference and should have been waved off the referees just missed it and there's a lot of talk right now should that be reviewable it is not reviewable what was reviewable was what was the basket in time before the the clock went zero zero zero and it's just one of those Forks in the rules Richards at the line John Calipari not shy in saying more than once that if Kentucky is going to be the team that wants to be Nick Richards Hansen has to reach his potential has to get closer to that potential as he gets a break now reap Travis back in we've seen some games where Richards is a huge force especially at the defensive end then he only played three minutes in the game against LSU well he's an excellent shot blocker rim protector that can change the game defensively but the last four games he's had seven points five rebounds in one block total in the last four games cheval Baker in for the first time for Kentucky guarding Turner his Scofield misses the three Alexander with a putback for Tennessee grant Williams kept that ball alive and Admiral Schofield settled back screen then he was open for that shot and the seat does such a good job on the offensive glass is just keeping the ball alive if they can't get the rebound they will tip it to keep it alive Travis got knocked down play continues shot clock inside 10 Johnson opened on the wing down it that was set up by the penetration of Ashton Hagan got a piece of the paint and then kicked it out what a drive by jordan bone there's some of that elite speed that Rick Barnes compares to TJ for the great guard that he had down in Austin I think Jordan bone needs to put more pressure on this Kentucky defensive won't really drive it from Hagen's to Johnson it's all because of the penetration Ashton Higgins is putting the ball on the deck and putting Tennessee and rotation Williams one-on-one no double-team yet now it comes and it's a turnover Johnson again and way too strong Tennessee ball [Applause] loan rises up for the mid-range jumper and brings the balls back with him for but he is such a good player solid defensively a low error rate and he has been outstanding all year long three to one assistant turnover ratio for Jordan bone averaging close to seven assists per game to lead the conference Johnson in the corner this time his mini slump is over when you have Kelvin Johnson and PJ Washington playing well now all of a sudden Kentucky is the force we expected them to be Schofield from the free-throw line will at least for the moment why if the crowd Tennessee screams like that and gets a piece of Scofield's defender he's going to be able to rise up and knock down that mid-range shot he's really worked on that stroke where it's become really reliable the next step for him he's gotta get to the free-throw line more grant Williams just got laid out by a PJ Washington screen Williams very slow to get up now back in the play Johnson absolute bedlam right now at Rupp Arena with Kentucky out to an eight-point lead on the number one team in the nation this is the way Kentucky is capable of playing they're playing a lot of people and everyone playing at a high level but especially PJ Washington and Calvin Johnson Johnson secures the rebound and finds Higgins baker's open but Kentucky has been so much more physical than a physical Tennessee squad they are dis knockin bodies all over the place on their defensive end Jay I think we've gone about five minutes of game time without a whistle and it hasn't been for lack of contact as grant Williams about that driving kicks to Scofield wide open for free just have to knock down those open shots those are open shots Turner had one go Fields had a couple Kentucky is making their open shots and Tennessee right now is not that has been the difference Sheldon Johnson who scored the last 11 points for the Wildcats a good job by grant Williams and stay in front of PJ Washington Travis trying to slip by Alexander [Applause] the Williams has been working his tail off on both ends looks a little bit winded right now as there is a ton of body contact out there I don't think we can blame any of the 10 guys for being winded the way this one is going tough shot by Schofield and now Williams down hard on the court again and slow to get up one more time what a frenetic pace [Applause] there have been five guys sitting at the scorer's table forever trying to get into his game is this coming knockdowns do you need before he get a standing eight count jordan bones been yelling at his teammates every time they get the ball let's go get running he wants them to play faster well they need to play ahead of this Kentucky defense has five on five this has been a fistfight on the kick Williams Dupree big shot for the balls all by the penetration of Jordan bone penetrated down to the baseline and then passed back out it's not like Tennessee hasn't been getting some open shots they're getting it and a foul on Levante Turner to take us to a timeout one T 318 Kentucky J with Calvin Johnson knocking him down from everywhere held in Johnson has scored 13 points in this ball game knocking down every open opportunity Kentucky off to a great start Calvin Johnson the freshman from Kentucky is having a great game 5 of 9 from the field 13 points he has one steal every open opportunity it seems like he has knocked it down three apply from three-point range Kentucky overall four of nine to stake themselves out to this five point it seems like an early lead but it's kind of a late first half last whistle was somewhere near the 13 minute mark and here comes some reinforcements on both sides you know another guy was having a great game so far is Ashton Higgins what a quarterback he's been four assists no turnovers so far he is on now he stays in there as quickly comes in as well so a two point guard look right now for Kentucky Berea Taylor with a report from the Tennessee Rick Barnes basically looked down at the box scores I think two guys have scored all we have to do is do a better job defending on PJ Washington Calvin Johnson and he also said right now we're settling for jump shots do a better job putting the ball on the deck and trying to make something happen Williams to foul Thank You Maria and right back to another media timeout 6:15 to go Kentucky leading Tennessee by five what do we come back Jay Bilas PJ Washington to go in 94 feet by popular demand 94 feet with PJ Washington brought to you by smile direct Club what is your favorite thing to eat everything that he was favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid I used to like countries my favorite destination for a vacation I loved one other game a horse roster why for Kentucky who wins it's our last shot you guys are tied to win the national championship who do you want to take in the show I'm taking the shot what's the biggest difference between PJ Washington last year and PJ Washington this year my confidence and where'd the confidence come prolly college new confidence change just working in a gym and getting better 94 feet what a great kid succinct answers to yeah you had to go deep into your bag of questions they're the first players since the twins the Harris since a few years ago to score 10 points per game and then come back for his next season and as we mentioned earlier great decision for him and obviously a huge boost for the Kentucky program that he returned through sophomore year he ponds guarding tyler hero who was running off those low post screens richard spinning and finishing 5th i move down on the block hasn't had success over the last four games but rick nick richards looking very confident and right now throughout the game kentucky has been getting a piece of the paint that's what's open things up for their open shots they're getting into the paint first the ponds baseline you see him playing with a mask suffered a facial fracture in practice had to have surgery missed one game played sparingly during the Vols game to this week but an important guy off the bench but this could have been a very serious of fracture kind of near his cheekbone where the cheekbone moves up towards the temple required some surgery and a tough kid to be back in there just a few days later right now for Tennessee not really a lineup where they're going to be throwing the ball inside Grant Williams on the bench and so they're gonna need to find open opportunities wide open ponds and he knocks down a corner three just a little screen for the screener action on the wide box set and he ponds was so open that he actually hesitated before he took that lefty jumper Tennessee one of the best offensive teams in the country his hero responds with a baseline jumper Tennessee top ten in the country and scoring number one in assists per game number two of the nation in field goal percentage tyler hero is moving so well without the ball if you go over the top of the screen he is gonna fade to the corner like he did just there that was an excellent read of the defense by tyler hero Bowden baseline into traffic finds Alexander and a couple of cats got him and now it's Hagen's it alone there is just no getting around it Tennessee has to be stronger because right now Kentucky is manhandling the boss this says they've been out physical all game long which you don't say about Tennessee very often at all and it's not that Tennessee hasn't been physical it just that Kentucky's been stronger zero runs down the loose wall and that was not a good possession for Tennessee one pass shot one up didn't make the defense move or really work on his chasing hero around a couple of screens and you've got to chase him so much it's gonna open up something for someone else including for the screener who was PJ Washington in this case it's ero missing that long jumper but look at Richards working on the glass John Calipari loving every minute of Nick Richards contribution he's got a confident big guy that is making a difference [Applause] ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is brought to you by Sonic get a quarter-pound double cheeseburger or a slinger plus tots for just $2.99 [Music] [Applause] all right Kevin well we had College GameDay from a different location here in Lexington Kentucky Memorial Coliseum and it seemed to work out for the half-court shot McKinley Webb knocked it down and that means 19,000 but right now we've got J well we've got Seth Greenberg here we got the Jeep halftime report coming up soon let's talk about this game it's an eight-point game but it seems like a great time again paint touches on the treble and on the past and they've been terrific especially the given Cisco and defending without fouling they've done a great job on Scofield and warriors all right these two brilliant men alongside reef Davidson coming up into deep halftime report unfairly Joe Lunardi stopping by two and they'll talk about our day Barrett's tripled over thank you here's the guy McKinley who made the shot at game day at age and if you don't believe me watch this excellent form and no doubt about it I think I was like his fifth effort looked like he was running out of gas a little bit then threw that one in that was really impressive you know coach Greenberg talked about Kentucky defending without fouling and he's exactly right 16 minutes they've only allowed 21 points Jake Kentucky's only committed one foul in this game horrible they have been unbelievably physical as well too and you know it's funny about their their two fouls they're both offensive offensive foul number pjy lay in the Gant one yep that's their first foul since 15 seconds into the game and because of their physicality they've been forcing jump shots from Tennessee and then they are out rebounding the balls by 10 we've dominated the glass that will replace action there's great thrive Richards with a block where he could really be a game-changer with the defensive end Schofield sizing up Washington gets it off the glass should good tough runner there by Admiral Schofield what help there was grant Williams posting so hard down on the low block it looked like that Schofield might throw it into him it's Ted he drove and he did a good job of shielding off another shot blocker good position for Washington no double-team and he'll finish again no way if he gets 2 feet in the paint one-on-one he's gonna miss that PJ Washington has a 7-3 wingspan that's his ninth point of the game he had the first seven of the night for Kentucky then Hilton Johnson took over Schofield for three weeks I'd rebound Williams he'll kick it out tipped by Hiro gathered in by Turner rocket Williams my to lift it up that left foot but he didn't instead a great looked about it whoa and Richards crashes into him at his ball for the foul Tennessee is getting open shots that was excellent ball movement Jordan Bowden is a fine 3-point shooter shoots over 40% from free and has been shooting very well of late no question on that foul there are a lot of bells getting rung out there and how many guys have been hit hard hit the deck hard this has been one of the most physical games that we've seen all season long fantasy number one Kentucky number five of course if kentucky's try to play their way up into a number one seed a win tonight would be a nice step in that direction a long way to go though in the season still Kentucky is really fighting for his screens another terrific drive by Admiral Schofield often times Admiral Schofield will be more of a shooter mid-range 3-point shooter and he's putting the ball on the deck he could find his way to the free-throw line didn't shoot a ton of free throws for that body he should shoot more good job by Williams to take away that pass and extend wow that's great one Fez what a play by Williams and a bucket at the other end for Turner that's just for a ball reversal to get that pin down on the other side and grant Williams not only extended it he took it away and Tennessee as well as Kentucky has played in this game just down by four what a fantastic defensive play by grant Williams and then Lamont a Turner scores on the other end John Calipari unhappy [Music] coverage tonight being brought to you by State Farm here to help life go right as Jay mentioned only a four point game Tennessee not a team built to go away they're not going anywhere even though it feels like Kentucky has dominated most of the first half it's just a four-point game well the one thing you know you better get this ball over and they just do I'm sure they did was awfully close Washington a game do they double them this time jump hook again that his British go-to move tonight PJ Washington has been active when he gets into the post he's gotten good position he stayed wide and man has he been tough he gets so wide you can't get around him in order to front him and Admiral Schofield caught behind then one on one in the post a nice little shake and then going to that left shoulder and he's so long he kicked it up there and blocking that's just great post play by PJ Washington who is 5 for 6 from the floor 11 points on the night he and held in Johnson have combined for 24 tipped by bone finished by Williams another opportunity for Tennessee bone couldn't grab it but he kept it alive Tennessee's so good at tipping those offensive rebounds and taking advantage of it the second guy grabs it and for grant Williams J that's his first 2 point field goal of the night he's previously made a couple of threes in this game PJ Washington's got to get the ball again with Schofield helped this time from Turner doesn't matter he has been fantastic in this first half a go to score for Kentucky phone using the screen pulls up for the jumper and knocks it down how easy was that got the screen from grant Williams old ball screen and then he trolled hard to the basket and rolled his man down and Jordan bone just took his time and waltzed into that shot shot clock turned off and away from the play bone called for a foul Hey Monday number for Virginia's in Blacksburg to take on number 22 Virginia Tech it is our rivalry week big Monday matchup 7 o'clock Eastern Time on ESPN and the ESPN app Barry blacks you're doing a fantastic job in Virginia Tech's win today at 29 points well as Jay mentioned a couple of times an extremely physical game here tonight if you're just joining us or if you don't believe us there's some video evidence - some of the things that have gone on we've had some very big strong people get knocked down to the deck on a few occasions tonight this has been as physical a game as we've seen all year long bodies have been hitting the deck you've seen guys I guess that's usually called a foul I mean it has been physical beyond belief bodies flying all over the place neither team got the one-on-one with all that contact neither team got the one-on-one they're going to meet again in two weeks in Knoxville leading the nation in bruises Kentucky winning the rebounding battle but Tennessee hanging right with the Wildcats on the offensive glass and with second-chance points 11 seconds Kentucky to win down [Applause] Kagan's crossover driving got it or what a move what a move the speed from bone got the shot off but couldn't hit it and Kentucky will take a six-point lead into halftime [Applause] what a good first half number one Tennessee number five Kentucky try to bounce back from the loss to Ellis she would beat the number one team in the nation they are up six at the break 37 31 Wildcats after these messages we'll send it to the jeep halftime report with rece Davis cent Greenberg and J Williams welcome back to Saturday primetime presented by H&R block this is a sonic blockbuster on ESPN and what a good first half Sheldon Johnson with some big moments PJ Washington was great Brent Williams three for three eight points to tie the scoring lead for Tennessee the reigning SEC Player of the Year let's take a look at our first half stats brought to you by Dell and have a Kentucky shooting 59% out rebounding Tennessee wholly committed three fouls in the first half at a very physical first half and they've got themselves a six-point lead on the number one team in the nation welcome back Rupp Arena did show the Jay Bilas what you think well Kentucky set the tone defensively and you mentioned without physical they were but they also got a piece of the paint they got into the paint off the dribble and then they got the ball inside the PJ Washington in order to keep it out of there they're gonna have to do Tennessee a better job of getting around in front and pressuring the ball so it can't be thrown so easily in there Tennessee has to do a much better job on their end of getting a piece of the paint and getting into the lane because they've taken a number of jump shots and some have been open they just got a hit up Maria Taylor with some thoughts from the Tennessee side of him I spoke with Rick Barnes and he said a big problem they had in the first half they simply weren't running their offense they were one pass and shoot and although that might not have been a bad shot he wants to work they want to get out in transition and they hope to get some more of these 5050 volved that we're seeing with this physical game and he also said that defensively they just have to work harder and turn the emotions around in the second half Maria thank you we are ready for the start of the second half of our Sonics Blockbuster Kentucky with the opening possession in a six-point lead how about Ashton Hagen's five assists no turnovers in the first half did a really good job defensively and put the ball on the deck got into the lane and they put Tennessee into rotation quite a bit look at that was so simple to get the ball inside to PJ Washington and he is looking like an NBA post player he extends so high with that 7-3 wingspan you can't block it or bother it and it doesn't matter if it's Ben Williams on him/her Schofield on and he's scored on both of them Bowen got caught in the air and turns it over Higgins one-on-one Euro step over Williams no good Travis with a hustle rebound and here that was just Kentucky out of hustling Tennessee on the offensive glass [Applause] just some great hustle and determination to buy a Kentucky tonight look at re Travis just out working people for that rebound fix it to the corner and Tyler hero knows what to do with it as he knocks it down to extend the lead to 11 a look at our fan cam on the student section here with Rupp Arena and this building J has been alive tonight hasn't it well for good reason because Kentucky has been the aggressor throughout this ball game and that last play made by Reed Travis and from the Tennessee perspective Rick Barnes was looking at Kyle Alexander saying you got to go after the ball but the ball came right to you you can get it and then it cost it cost Tennessee of three Allyson banana our thanks to her for working so hard in the student section showing us some great shots about how it looks and feels for Kentucky fans tonight balls loose and again it belongs to Kentucky and numbers hero Travis got fouled nervous that was just a simple little flex cut on the Tennessee end and then a duck in by grant Williams just a poor pass by Lamont a Turner in the turnover that led to the run-out being right now you know Tennessee is not strong with the ball and they're being knocked back on every possession in the second half Tennessee is down 12 right now this matches the largest deficit the volunteers have had now exceeds this is now the largest deficit Tennessee has faced at any point in any game this year they were down six at halftime and had to feel pretty good about being down six with the way the first half went they were hanging in there and then it's been doubled up on them in just three possessions seven Oh Kentucky in the first minute 21 of the second half let's see if Tennessee runs that same screen for the screener action baseline jumper Schofield way too strong Washington fouled by Alexander Wednesday night we will have college basketball's greatest rivalry it'll be North Carolina and Duke a part of rivalry week presented by Wendy's it's a sonic blockbuster from Cameron Indoor Stadium nine o'clock Eastern on ESPN and the ESPN app so you can watch anywhere both teams victorious today Duke over NC State and North Carolina over Wake Forest's Ameren Johnson had 27 points against state and then Zion Williamson had 32 against that was awake for 32 against NC State and RJ Barrett had a triple-double I think 23 12 and 11 is what we saw Turner with a three that rattles out and no offense run by Tennessee leads to a run out Johnson good defense by Schofield but Johnson scores anyway this is getting away from Tennessee they have been manhandled just manhandle Williams the king Schofield for three how about that recovery by PJ Washington to put pressure on that job the length to bother scope field when he seemed like he had a wide open look and Kentucky winning the battle the boards as well at both hands backdoor cut a challenge at the RAM and a foul is called on Tennessee it'll be on Schofield now do you think that was a strong move on that cut who hit the deck it wasn't PJ Washington let me watch this backdoor cut from the right corner he goes up so strong it's grant Williams that hits the deck that's a big-time play by PJ Washington the awareness to cut to the basket and then the strength with which he has played all game long how impressive as he been what a night he's having a league aim high 16 points for Washington over the last eight games no but no big guy in the country has been better than PJ Washington but that Tennessee still has not been to the line denied [Applause] Kentucky has protected its paint so well in this game bone tipped away by Hagen's and it's going to belong to Kentucky that ball hit bone before it landed out of bounds all of the emotion all of the strength has been on Kentucky side in this one and they are running away with this one against the number one team in the country they have outscored Tennessee ten nothing in the second half and really Tennessee hasn't had a good look at the basket yet everything has been contested hey here's with a jumper 18-point lead a challenge by Travis at the rim and it belongs to the cats again is to touch them for two more this is the team that everybody thought was number one coming into this season we haven't seen much of this group but this was a good time to show itself this is what Kentucky can be the remainder of the season Ashton Haig is in transition after the excellent defense on the other end Reed Travis with the plate defensively and Hagen's getting right into the lane dishing it off to Calvin Johnson and the emotion of a team that has played with tremendous strength against the number one team in the nation 20-point lead Kentucky early in the second half tomorrow it's our next UFC fight night with former heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez taking on Francis in igano at 9 o'clock Eastern Time of the main event on ESPN and ESPN Deportes s and you can watch the free limbs on ESPN Plus starting at 5:30 Eastern with the rest of the prelims on ESPN and des portes starting at 7:00 start your free trial today by downloading the ESPN app or visiting ESPN plus dot-com this is something 14-nothing Kentucky run in the first three and a half minutes of the second half Tennessee without question one of the best offensive teams in the country has yet to score here in the second half you know I think I think Tennessee came ready to play they were well-prepared but Kentucky came prepared for a UFC fight I mean they came they came prepared to battle it out in the Octagon and they are they have knocked Tennessee around from the opening tap whoa laughs Williams and a foul on PJ Washington grant Williams has played hard all game long and he's had some success but he has spent more time on his back in this game than the rest of the season combined as holding that left wrist right now PJ Washington just brought that left arm down just a bit but other than that that worked there wasn't much there he's allowed to go straight up and I thought he did for the most part first free-throw attempt of the night for Tennessee those are tough calls there because you're thinking about well wait a minute that was offensive initiated contact and it did did PJ Washington come down a little bit from vertical those were tough ones Williams knocks from both down remember that incredible game he had against Vandy scored 43 points that it was a perfect 23 of 23 from the free-throw line in that game Tennessee bringing full-court pressure they got to do something to change the rhythm of this game because Kentucky's established the rhythm on the defensive end they established a defensive rhythm in this ball game and away from the play a call going against Tennessee Jordan bone called for the foul all Kentucky up 18 points you're watching the SEC on ESPN ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is brought to you by Outback Steakhouse Aussie Rules - because it's all about flavor k and both of those games [Music] all of the funding goes to the Jimmy be found in the top 25 when you're talking about Notre Dame at NC State and I know that you like arica go Bilal AJ she's 33 points from being the all-time leading scorer right now at Notre Dame yeah she passed Skylar Diggins she's got over 2,300 points already and the Oregon just beat Oregon State in Eugene and Sabrina in sq at 29 points and nine assists in that game and Oregon averaging 90 points a game that leads the country if you haven't seen Sabrina Enescu play she is as good off pick and rolls as any player in the country male or female hero turns the corner can't finish and the foul though is called against Tennessee it'll be on Scofield no Dan Tennessee averages right at 20 assists per game they are an excellent passing team the Vols have five assists in this game they've been essentially reduced by the Kentucky defense into having to go one-on-one and to take on five defenders with one action they've been taken totally out of their offense they're not shooting the three well deny three 4:13 they're being out rebounded by nine and a Kentucky is shooting 62% in the game 21 of 34 five of eight in the second half and it has been all Kentucky and every effort basically every player that's come in for conferred Kentucky has made a positive contribution phone to Williams fade away over Travis tipped by Schofield man oh man he had to go up strong for that one but how about the difficulty of that shot for grant Williams having to shoot over the outstretched arm of PJ Washington he is so long Ashton Higgins continues to be in complete control at the offensive end for Kentucky now up to seven assists with no turnovers in this game for the freshman well Tennessee is not able to get much pressure on this Kentucky team they haven't had to turn their backs at all they're just sort of picking them apart and getting basically getting whatever they want Alexander back in the pour Schofield here comes ponds as well as bone will sit down this should be a real confidence builder for Kentucky to let the players know that they've got this in them I mean they have not played this well that I've seen in any other game they've had some good games nothing like this lot of contact down low and it'll be Alexander whistled for the foul Wow he was around in front they got tied up how is that his foul that's interesting and it's number four and that's what a force rick barnes to his bench again as poker s-- it'll come in an Alexander had position in front ease around in front and he was dislodged from that position but those are those are difficult plays to call with two big bodies bangin how about bonus already G barely five minutes into the second half well the the fouls the foul advantage usually goes to the aggressive and if you don't have to have watch this game very long to figure out who the aggressor has been it's been Kentucky the people sometimes look at they look at free-throw disparity and fouled disparity now there's a huge there's a disparity for a reason and Tennessee has not put Kentucky in a position to foul as often as Kentucky's done that the Tennessee remember the report Maria had early in the game when Rick Barnes told his team you're settling for jump shots too often they haven't been able to penetrate this defense Williams what he did there he paused for four do you like that any I do you better patent that by the end of the night man he is down well that's not mine that's that's Kevin Eastman yeah but yeah he spent more time on his back then I have seen good shot fake to get PJ Washington off the floor just a simple little pick and roll in a pocket pass from Amonte Turner but he is drawing quite a crowd and it is an angry crowd and a physical one that was not a subway pusher as some people know Ju coach this young man in a you a few years ago there you are back row left head coach your son Anthony on the team daniel Jones Duke quarterback played on that team and grant Williams has a great group of guys John serve a former assistant to Jeff Lee Bo at Auburn is a lot of fun and then this Brent Williams was a terrific player in high school wasn't as heavily recruited he should have been simply because his body wasn't there he's a smaller post guy that didn't have the body he has now as Maria Taylor told us about but he's got unbelievable hands and you're not gonna find a better young man Maria and actually Jo was assistant coach Desmond Oliver who spotted grant Williams when he was an eighth grade playing at Providence Day in Charlotte and he said when he got the job at Tennessee he wanted to recruit him there and pal down in the pose three Travis is being so aggressive trying to establish position and this time it was Scofield who gets called for the foul his third now watch he goes right into the chest of Scofield and and really backs him in and I don't know what's going on Scofield grabbed his arm that's what ducks sermons called there I don't know what he can do I mean he just got knocked backwards but again the aggressor is getting the call and the aggressor has been Kentucky now watch read Travis goes right into the chest of Scofield and just knock some odds but just yet that arm on them and that's what drew the call I mean if that's not that we've been talking about you hear all these officials and supervisors talking about post play and we've got to clean up the post and you know if you've got that position you're getting knocked off there it's awfully difficult to play defense in the post the lead is 20 for the Wildcats Fulkerson can't handle the pass runs it down and finds pawns Bowden off his screen rejected by Travis numbers for Kentucky and the follow by Montgomery [Applause] five white shirts going after the ball and Tennessee slow getting down the floor it has been a consistent theme all game long as soon as that shot was blocked it was a run out and watch how hard Kentucky runs and then compare that now one ball was down but compare it to look nothing but white shirts and look at all the Tennessee guys kind of jogging down right now Tennessee's of beaten team there are beaten team Kentucky out hustling and out efforting a team known for hits hustle and effort and toughness tonight but you're right Kentucky came out from the opening moment PJ Washington kind of established the the tone of this game in the first couple of minutes and there's been no letter now I'm not sure that I'm a big believer in make up calls but we've had so little contact on this but the foul disparity is being being evened out right now history by Bowden [Music] - stunning how one-sided this has been Travis a size advantage on pies Nana sees had to go small because of foul trouble and Kentucky is owning the block got to go into Williams he was hooked by Ashton Higgins now you wonder why that's not you know what's a hook and hold and what's not that's another interesting part of this you got a switch on the screen and like how do you what do you call that like did they just get tangled up or went why don't we call in the hook and hold and when not I don't know I'm glad they're not calling it but you kind of wonder what are we doing here [Applause] Scofield kept that pivot foot down and another chip in another athletic play on the offensive glass by Admiral Scofield and did that with the left hand but look how hard it is every league's contested how hard it is for Tennessee just to get a scorer in Kentucky able to run their offense make their cuts they're running their offense without breaking a sweat and they've made it incredibly difficult for Tennessee to get anything and Travis scores on the block and that could have been an and-one they're just bigger stronger and more resolute to get to the rim than Tennessee Schofield misses the three and rebound Travis just complete domination especially here in the second half it was only a six point game at halftime it's twenty five seven for Kentucky in the second half Kentucky hasn't punched anybody like this all year long this is the best they play and it's not close this is this is final for type stuff Baker with a block and everybody who's come into the game in a white jersey deny has been a contributor the only one that struggled a little bit is Emanuel quickly man this has to overstate things but you know if Kentucky plays like this is this is a Minneapolis team go big blue the chant here and it's going to get a little bit louder no we had a travel called on Travis so wave off the bucket - we couldn't call the hook through them great noise and emotion and intensity here bitter up and it's Kentucky in a one-sided affair there is a big disparity on the scoreboard and it has been because of the physical play of Kentucky grant Williams the SEC Player of the Year has been knocked all over the place he has spent more time on the floor on his back than he has standing up in this game and still he has 11 points and seven rebounds but he's only got four shot attempts in this game Kentucky has made it so difficult for Williams to get the ball in the scoring area and this team that averages 20 assists per game Tennessee has five assists on 16 field goals that's remarkable the defensive job that Kentucky has done on this team that is averaging 186 points per game they've got 38 and not only are there about 23,000 people who are fans of Kentucky join us with some former Wildcats are here as well this is NBA all-star weekend Maria Taylor is with one of those former cats it is this all-star weekend so there's a little bit of a break so Kevin Knox decided to come and watches cats and you know your first-round draft pick you went to the New York Knicks we've played interrupts now you played it in HD I need you to compare the two atmospheres plenty I mean both it's crazy I mean rubbers like this almost every single game Madison Square Garden saying I mean defend show so much support win or lose they're gonna be there for you so that's why why they've got some of the best fans in the world and a big reason why players come to Kentucky is to become a pro so tell me how coach cal being a wildcat helped prepare you to be a first rounder and play for the next it's gonna get you outside your comfort zone that's something that couches pretty much the whole year they want you to play on the great conditions he wants to yell at you scream at you so you can be ready for the next level so I think that's one of the reasons why okay you look pretty ready when you stand it on Ben Simmons I think that was two games ago I just need you to take me back to that moment know once you remember I had to finish that dunk I mean I shot beyond just put a great pass there's a great backdoor cut and I just wound up and sinister alright you guys didn't have a standing ovation here and I know that you're a little bit of an NCAA junkie so talk to me about whether or not this Kentucky team is a Final Four team I think they are I mean I think when we play our best basketball I mean I think we could be pretty much anybody in that country just got in the tournament got a better play at a consistent rate but if we want to go home so you got to play every game like it's our lives and a guy that's been playing well the last eight games PJ Washington you played with them what have you enjoyed about his game I mean he's just taking leadership by this team I mean he's taken over and basically being the man of the team so ah keep playing like this I mean it definitely got shot at one entity played a year a piece of your time Kevin enjoying the rest of the game Thank You Maria thank you you saw some of the former Wildcats who are here among them Malik monk Michael kidd-gilchrist wenyen gabriel and others are here again this's all-star weekend so all the guys playing pro up a little bit of time off how about the difference in halves in the first half he didn't have a team in the one in one to the last minute of the first half now you're the one in one half way through the second half both teams different whistle in the second half and these teams got in the first [Applause] last five points belong to Tennessee but they're still down by a whopping 19 point margin right now so it's tipped out of bounds with eight on the shot clock well two-three zone now for Tennessee just try to give a little bit of a different look to Kentucky they've been able to keep those Wildcats out of the lane off the glass nothing terrific pass tough shot for a hero and Schofield the rebound for the Vols open his Williams and fouled on a three-point attempt by Nick Richards and another hard collision with the court for grant Williams who's been knocked on his rear end all night long well not a smart play by Nick Richard trying to close out to the three-point shooter and it was long after it was released but he's still going to get three free throws I mean he didn't get hit too low after he'd landed but it's not a good foul I take grant Williams he's gonna be a cut man like a corner man to take care of mine I can't recall a game in which a big-time player has been knocked around like he's been knocked around and we're told the officials are looking at the monitor to see if it was a 2 or a 3 and clearly you can see it's a three so three free throws coming here for Williams fourth foul is well on Nick Richards it's funny though he wasn't fouled until he came down inside the line right does that give outward here and again like he wasn't touched right until he came down but that's just our a really odd play I'm not sure I've seen a three-point shooter fouled so long after he landed because the shooter has to be given the right to land but he did have the right to land as you said he was down I'm just saying dick you're just kind of saying wait a minute before you're no longer the shooter it's just it was odd I'm not questioning the calls just uh you don't see that very often that particular way again they've got a long way to go but they're starting to make some inroads here Williams makes this a NATO run for Tennessee now this is about stringing together consecutive stops playing without fouling good ball movement open shot from the corner Johnson the missed hit back out by Travis foot he knocks it right out of bounds right now for Tennessee you want to not only get a good shot but put Kentucky in a position to value now the crowd rallying trying to help Kentucky at the defensive end Williams to touch on the block Travis there Washington over to help Scofield from the corner good ball movement that is more like the Tennessee we have seen all seasonal that's the passing we've seen if grant Williams able to the diagonal pass to Jordan bone and the immediate pass to the corner that's the kind of ball movement that you normally see from Tennessee but it's all because Grant Williams was able to catch the ball watch how he looks metal to see if there's a double coming and as soon as he attacks he got Kyle Alexander down low in the read spot Calvin Johnson has to go get him then he's slow getting out to Admiral Schofield because of the great pass from Jordan bone and all of a sudden there's some life from Tennessee big Monday we've got a great rivalry game for you Virginia is in a Blacksburg to take on a Virginia Tech mr. Billis will be there part of the rivalry week big Monday matchup 7 o'clock Eastern Time on ESPN and the ESPN app Virginia with a six-point win over Notre Dame big games today for hunter and guy Duke a game up on Virginia and and of course Virginia Virginia Tech Monday Duke and Carolina meet in Durham on Wednesday and Duke with the obviously eleven and one with the lead in the ACC and he's just looking at the schedule saying where where might losses come and there aren't that many one one could be Wednesday night against North Carolina the two-three zone for Tennessee Kentucky can't just pass the ball around the perimeter they've got to penetrate the gaps of this zone whether by the pass or the dribble interesting agents who set the foul line now he steps out Johnson throws up a runner and Williams has it or possession by Kentucky wasted too much time on the perimeter without attacking bone and the wrestling match between Alexander and Travis and the possession arrow will give it to Tennessee play Reed Travis just threw Alexander out of bounds if there's a little bit of a bulk difference in those two watch this they both have the ball and he just let him know Travis is three inches shorter and 25 pounds heavier than Kyle Alexander better get in Hagen's just face guard in jordan bone Schofield again from distance and another foul on a three-point attempt where that was not a smart play and right now Kentucky the zone has been a big factor in changing the the tempo of this game but Kentucky making mental errors right here you not trying to block that shot you're trying to pressure the shot there's a difference trying to block it led to the foul where there's a lot of time left in regulation to this game Tennessee can get this down under 10 put a little game pressure on Kentucky we could have a game again and this should not have been a game again bout in the back end for Tennessee quickly in for Johnson for Kentucky [Applause] the move to the zone has been helpful in this game to make Kentucky stand around a little bit they are not attacking like they were earlier in the game Schofield a breather after he makes two or three pawns back in it's now a 13 to nothing run for the balls right now Tyler Hiro has got to be active little 1/2 to 3/4 court pressure Hiro has to move and find a find an open spot 0 to 4 7 7 points on the night [Applause] Washington gets a touch near the elbow drives it in and stores a good movement by hero to get open and then to get the ball to Washington who was active in the middle of that zone they stretched it out a little bit with their movement and caused the zone to move tough pass taken away by Washington two-on-one hero and Alexander hustles back but his call to the foul is that it for him if it is Alexander it is number five and he knows that he's walking off done for the night one of the few times you seen grant Williams throw the ball away by just trying to make thread and needle through traffic there was really nothing there when he was in the corner the e pons made a cut to the basket but they're just too many people that Rick Barnes tell him right now he can't make that pass and he led to a run out and took away some of the momentum that had been established by the Vols and Williams will sit down next whistle under the eight-minute mark is a media timeout so they can get him a pretty good rest without mitching missing much game time PJ Washington and you see just tucks that elbow in right before he goes up gets down takes his last triple and watch his right arm he tucks that elbow in so you can keep the elbow under the ball Kentucky one of the youngest teams in the country Tennessee one of the oldest teams in the country the young team has played with great poise together this and toughness all night long they finally have snapped that long run that Kentucky had they've gotten the last four points and had that lead back up to 15 Tennessee could use Jordan Bowden getting a little bit hot here and how about Bowden in turner j.r a combined 1 for 12 two points well they've been well guarded after the double figure scorers on the season Scofield the drive good help by Travis he's had a big night the numbers may not show it that much but he's been a part of everything was driving into trouble first it was Admiral Schofield driving into trouble then I'll see your drive into trouble and all rays you [Music] when you don't make the defense move and then you drive it you're just asking for it Bowden and it goes maybe that'll get him going a little bit because he can't go over and have Tennessee win on the road is not going to happen his first points of the night still a 13-point deficit [Applause] Dero still going lift the floater short got it back and missed again got it back again and hits Tennessee had every opportunity to grab a defensive rebound but Tyler Hiro the three-point shooter a three-point play the old-fashioned way [Applause] [Music] aerial coverage is brought to you by State Farm here to help life go right well life has certainly been going right for the Gonzaga Bulldogs this year one of the top teams in the country it projected number one seed right now Rui Hachi Mora one of the best players in the country will lead Gonzaga against San Diego Dave Pasch bill Wolfe standing by to bring you that game at the conclusion of ours tonight brewery Hachi Mora is such a difficult matchup big strong and really really skilled let's talk about big and strong kentucky has dominated the paint in this game 32 to 18 points in the paint the Wildcats have blocked six shots they have changed far more and TJ Washington has been outstanding 20 points 8 of 9 from the field two blocks two steals [Music] Tennessee vos 643 to go PJ Washington get a little work done on his left leg right now you have to you have to credit his great play in this game to the 94 feet segment are you of course you have to that would be an interesting study we should do a bit of an analytics study on how guys do after 94 feet they do great and even if they don't they're just better for the experience my Rick Barnes keeps shoving people in and out trying to find a combination and they had that run a few minutes ago got it down to 11 that was as close as they've been since Kentucky bolted out of the gate here in the second half with a 14 to nothing run back to the two-three zone [Applause] Tylar hero is the perimeter threat manual quickly is a good shooter he's turned the ball over a couple times in this one but that's the guy right there and hero has it stripped away after a nice feed from Travis Turner for three every open shot it seems that Tennessee's had they've missed they are just 5 of 18 from three-point range on the season 37% tonight 28% turn around a little bit short for Washington or for Travis Roddick [Music] nice cut nice speed but Bowden can't finish he is fouled oh by quickly little stagger screen on the weak side and they just cut it short Bowden curling right around the first of the two screeners and just got passed quickly and not enough pressure on the ball to discourage that pass from Admiral Schofield Sports Center tonight after Gonzaga San Diego with John de Buci grass and John Anderson if you didn't know Jay you're on the show tonight as you will break down this game between Tennessee and Kentucky must-see endings across the country crazy stuff including another thrilling win for Iowa and the best of NBA all-star Saturday you know what it means when you're first up on the rundown for sports under such a terrific view it means ratings Bunnyman Tennessee still in the 2-3 zone Kentucky turns it over John Calipari very unhappy with the sloppy play against the zone right now against the zone Kentucky's not penetrated any gaps to make to play one and then play out of that it's been a lot of windshield-wiper passing around the outside of his own this is just the third game against a ranked opponent this season for Tennessee kind of hard to believe they beat Gonzaga when the Zags were number one they lost in overtime to Kansas when the Jayhawks were number two both of those before the new year back to non-conference play now you look at the rest of the schedule for Tennessee they still got to go to LSU they've still got to go to Ole Miss they've still got to go to Auburn and they're also going to host Kentucky at their place it's not going to be easy for any of the top teams so the way these power five conferences are back loaded but that is not an easy finish LSU is really played well obviously played well in this building on Tuesday night but they are so athletic and talented devant waters their best player best scorer but has read an excellent player there Skyler Mays they're very very good and if Kentucky wins this game it really tightens things up amongst those top three at the top of the standings in the SEC what great work by Washington djay Washington has been an attack mode hot it drove it and he was first after that offensive rebound look at the reaction grabbing it with that left hand and then finishing the play now that's how you penetrate the gaps of the zone he just blew by the top two defenders in that 2-3 zone and was quickest off the floor for that second opportunity what a game PJ Washington's hat and what up what a last eight games he has had an animal Schofield becomes the second ball to foul out tonight for Washington the seven-time in the last eight games to J's point that he's had 20 or more points Tennessee's got time for one last push you just don't know if they've got enough energy to make that push I would have to do it without Scofield [Applause] good hands by Hagen's like Kentucky's been spectacular the defense has been excellent and spent strong they've been talking I bet you there are a lot of fans in this building who have leaned over to the person next to them and said wouldn't have thought this was coming after the loss to Duke at the beginning of the year I mean that 34 point below out and they've gotten better and better and better over the last couple of months it took a step back with the loss to LSU but what a performance by the Wildcats tonight up 13 on the number 1 team of the nation less than four minutes to go ESPN's exclusive presentation of college basketball is presented by HRSA nor online block has your back and in part by smile direct club delivering straighter smiles for 60% less [Music] assuming the Tennessee does not make a comeback right now well Joe Lunardi is he's in the bracket bunker it is that time of year he's got Duke Tennessee Virginia Gonzaga as the ones he said earlier today even if Kentucky wins this game the ones don't change the order would change a little bit but regardless of ones and twos and record it's Duke and Carolina it's going to be terrific it's going to be must-see TV Wednesday night from Durham Ashton Hagen's in his last four games has 18 assists and 12 turnovers coming into this one in this game seven assists just a single turnover in 33 minutes he's played excellent defense this is the Ashton Hagen's that John Calipari needs on the floor every game for Kentucky to contend for the whole thing and a big ovation for the freshman as he sits down a well-deserved ovation [Applause] another deflection and another turnover little screen rescreen action for Jordan bound then he drove it but Kentucky just rallying to the ball is so active active hands getting deflections with passes Johnson baseline yes that's that's a great zone attack getting the ball inside back out and then reversed and attacking off the reversal Fulkerson takes soo bum and banks it home for Tennessee timeout Rick Barnes Wilkerson just getting back to that right shoulder he's a lefty and spun back to get to that left hand off the glass well the game began with PJ Washington taking over for Kentucky and he has continued to have a great night nine for 11 23 points Oh PJ Washington has talented he's long and he's very skilled and a good passer that early on in the season was very up-and-down he might have 29 points and 12 rebounds in one game against Seton Hall with in other games he'd score six and wouldn't be calling for the ball wouldn't be active but he puts some sort of switch eight games ago and he has been as consistent at the highest level as any big guy in the country over the last few weeks really been a remarkable transformation for PJ Washington into what could be - what is every game and you can rely upon it it's like Dave if that is your name you're stuck with me and there's not a damn thing you can do about it I love my drum get a chance to see really at jhamora Brandon fly how good is Brandon Clark terrific Wooden Award late season twenty asses hatch amaura don't forget about the zags when you're talking about the best teams in the country back to man-to-man for Tennessee [Applause] when go down for Washington less than 2:30 to go Tennessee ball grant Williams got a piece of that ball before it went up but still VJ Washington strong enough to get the shot off boy Fulkerson was begging for the ball didn't get it now he has to come out together look adentro Williams being fronted can't get it in there Turner misses the free and Washington another rebound but really Kentucky just needs to use clock here then get it across in ten seconds so it's a turnover [Applause] [Music] I think the Kentucky players took them a little while to realize what had gone on there but it is a 10 second violation so we go back over to the volunteers well the clock starts as soon as Kentucky gets possession and it took him a while to sort of but BJ Washington get rid of the ball you just didn't realize it where Williams has had to work so hard for every touch tonight a nice kick-out to Bowen who knocks down a three in requires in fact who's going to use the timeout he does not 12-point lead Kentucky ball and Johnson to inbound for the cats and as he stepping up the pressure but time is their enemy right now time to those five guys in white shirt they've been a problem to where Higgins has just played so well he's been in command of the team remember John Calipari said a couple of days ago that he has quote hit the freshman wall that he hasn't been very good the last three games we'll have much higher praise I would think for his freshman after this one well he knocked the wall down in this game because he's played strong all game long it's not like he's playing against a slouch Jordan bone is the best point guard in this league if Kentucky wins tonight sure looks like they're going to it'll be the second win for Kentucky against a number one under John Calipari the first game of the tournament against Ohio State back in 2011 and they would avoid consecutive home losses they haven't had that in 10 years going back to the year before Calipari was the coach no basket EJ Montgomery was called for a foul that kind of cleared some space for Hagen's the crowd started chanting overrated and John Calipari tried to put a stop that I never know why crowds want to do that they want to take away at their own win but I said it wasn't that great money where was the foul there huh yeah Cal didn't like the overrated chant neither the number one team why you're playing great why would you want to call him overrated like but what we're doing isn't that great okay I don't I don't get that foul call that was not a foul and it was away from the play I thought that didn't make any sense at all and Montgomery agreed to you could tell from his facial expression Fulkerson will go to the line for Tennessee and he will the first half was like a football game we had no whistles and the second half spent like more like a dance and we've had whistles like crazy Scofield fouled out a while ago Alexander fouled out even earlier [Applause] Ahn's back in four Fulkerson right now for Kentucky it's about making hard cuts passing and catching and being strong with the ball and then knocking down free throws because they're gonna get fouled Williams fouls Travis Tennessee came into the game averaging better than 85 points per game seventh in the country and shooting 52% second in the country and they're a long way off from those numbers tonight hey you didn't expect that Tennessee was gonna come into this building and get into the 80s I mean you didn't think Kentucky would allow that but the the manner in which this game has been this lead has been built up I mean it's been a physical fistfight and it's been taken straight to Tennessee by Kentucky from the opening tap they just manhandled the Vols in the first half and still it was a six-point game at halftime at the start of the second half they just ran away 14 Oh run in about the first three and a half minutes of the second half blew it open and the closest Tennessee got after that was 11 [Applause] Hagen's a good job to stay in front a bone but bones it's a tough turn around [Applause] it's got to make some free throws here and there and this one will be over [Applause] Gonzaga San Diego currently airing on ESPN news that game will move over here to ESPN as soon as this one is done it's not often you get a shot at number one it's not often you beat number one but Kentucky which has been getting better and better they're ranked fifth already they're projected to be a two seed at this time but again as you mentioned the back loaded nature of the schedule for some in these some of these power conferences you've got a chance to move up a little bit with the kind of schedule that Kentucky still got coming we did Washington looks like he's read a little bit of pain over there I wonder if it's some sort of crap he's drinking some Gatorade you see him right behind right there he was getting getting that left leg massage a little bit [Applause] with a blood on the court surprised us just a little bit [Applause] the tiler hero did a good job in this game on the defensive end 12 rebounds for Tyler hero as a guard he sticks his nose in there and goes after the ball the average is over 4 rebounds a game whose double-double for the freshman's saw earlier this year at Louisville at 24 points in that game that was really his breakout performance and did that as much on the defensive end as anywhere Turner forces up the three and Travis right in the middle of it underneath began with his eighth rebound of the night it hasn't been Tennessee's night but that's where a shot fake would have gone a long way let the defender fly by [Applause] interesting week for the Wildcats the controversial loss at home here Tuesday night to LSU what a year we'll wait steam is having right now and then Kentucky bouncing back with this extremely impressive performance against Tennessee and look at what it all means at the top of the standings if Kentucky wins they'll go to ten and two Tennessee would drop to 11 and 1 and J you'd have three teams within one game of the lead in this time yeah really one of the big winners in this game has been LSU because the the Tigers schedule down the stretch is nowhere near as difficult as Kentucky's or Tennessee's and they're Jordan bone knocking down another shot man that guy is a good player he's the he's the best pro prospect on this Tennessee team one game to keep an eye on Tennessee will be at LSU a one week from today February 23rd on ESPN at noon Eastern it's not gonna get much easier for Rick Barnes his team a tough schedule with the rest of the way Tylar hero back to the line one thing you know though it may not get easier but it's not gonna get more physical a [Applause] league right now with Joey brackets projecting seven teams getting in and he had Florida as one of the first four out you want to talk about a team that helped themselves today the Gators with an 18-point road win at Alabama today big win for them and one by one the cats coming out to big ovations this time it's Travis Travis was excellent in the second half [Applause] bowden short on the three and here Oh another loose ball bow bone fouls him and hero will head back to the free-throw line and surprise surprise more bodies on the deck there have been more bodies on the ground in this game than in the Super Bowl and granted this is late in the game this is not the way it has been for most of the night but a look at the players in the game right now for Kentucky five freshmen and they've all grown up a little bit here tonight they have all played well really not getting as much of an opportunity everybody else really has done yeoman's work for the Caston and the younger team taking out the older more experienced team and stronger now playing at home but stronger from the opening tap and that was the most impressive thing to me was just how how strong physically and mentally that Kentucky has been throughout this 40 minutes they had one wall when Tennessee made a little comeback had a chance to cut it to below 10 but it's been all Kentucky in this thing all Kentucky quickly with good hustle knocks the ball away into the hands of Johnson and a Montgomery will get a freebie Big Blue Nation going to have themselves a fun Saturday night well they've earned it this is the best Kentucky's play it all season long the best they have played Tennessee will suffered first loss in a conference just its second loss of the season this will snap the volunteers 19 game winning streak the longest in program history what a performance by the Kentucky Wildcats here tonight take it out number one and doing it in convincing fashion [Applause] the final score Kentucky 86 Tennessee 69 for Jay Bilas Maria Taylor and outdrew I'm Dan Schulman saying thanks for watching from Lexington more hoops coming your way to San Diego with a Bill Walton here's Dave Pasch I didn't get ice cream

Channel: O__BALL__O

Views: 18,586

Rating: 4.9359999 out of 5

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Id: xtJRdNh6dxg

Length: 100min 4sec (6004 seconds)

Published: Mon May 25 2020