Kentucky players had no smiles after losing to Tennessee again Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It’s hard to imagine this but Tennessee and coach Rick Barnes now own Kentucky. Between 1964 and 2019 Kentucky was 20-0 against Tennessee at home when the Cats led by at least eight points at halftime. In the last two seasons, Kentucky has lost to Tennessee at home with halftime leads of 11 and eight points.
Corey Price of UK Athletics noted that UK’s 3-6 mark in the last nine games against Tennessee is the worst nine-game span against the Vols since Feb. 17, 1979, to Jan. 31, 1983, when the Cats also went 3-6.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes’ three wins at Rupp Arena after Saturday’s 82-71 win leave only Dale Brown of LSU and Billy Donovan of Florida with more wins at Rupp. They both had four.
Barnes knows what beating Kentucky means to Tennessee fans.
“I think we all know that Kentucky is our rival. There’s no question about that. I’m not sure I even knew that until I got here and everyone let me know real quick how important the Tennessee-Kentucky rivalry was starting way back in the ’60s and so I get it,” Barnes said.
“I know what it means to Tennessee being three and a half hours south, playing over all these years but at this point in time you know how much respect I have for John (Calipari) and his program and the way they do things. I’m just happy for our guys.
“I’m happy for Yves Pons and John Fulkerson. Those guys have had a chance to come up here to win some games, but again I realize our fan base loves it. They do. I get it, and we’ve got a lot more we can do.”
Barnes said bringing “some good basketball teams, good players and guys” to Rupp Arena is why he is now the only active head coach with three wins at Rupp.
“I told them a year ago when we were down I think 16 with 11 minutes to go, came back and that was one of the greatest comebacks I’ve been a part of. Tonight, we were down 10 at halftime,” Barnes said Saturday.
“But the credit goes to the players. I mean you saw them tonight. It was fun watching them play like that from where I was, it really was. I just loved the way they got locked into the game and were oblivious to everything that was going on and we focused on what went on between the lines. I’m just excited for these guys and excited for our fan base.”
