A pair of teams coming off disappointing home losses will meet this evening at Rupp Arena. That amps up the importance of the border battle between Kentucky and Tennessee, with both teams needing a win to stay in contention for a Southeastern Conference regular season title.
The Cats (15-5 overall, 5-3 SEC record) were ranked 10th before their disappointing 94-91 overtime loss to Florida on Wednesday. UK again struggled on the defensive end, repeatedly allowing wide-open looks from beyond the arc. The Gators’ Walter Clayton Jr. took full advantage of the lackluster defense by draining seven 3-pointers, including a game-tying bomb with three seconds remaining in regulation, and a go-ahead 3 with 1:42 left in overtime.
Every time it looked like the Cats were going to separate themselves from Florida, the Gators found an answer. If it wasn’t Clayton doing the damage, it was Tyrese Samuel (22 points, 13 rebounds) in the paint, or Zyon Pullin, who was clutch throughout the game, including three free throws in the final minute of overtime, and finished with 21 points.