‘Cats Smother Vols 74-45, Head to SEC Finals

No wireless, no problem. I’m in Nashville basking in the glory of an absolute beatdown of the Tennessee Volunteers, but I don’t have Internet access. Fortunately, it’s my iPhone to the rescue and I get to pound out some quick thoughts about the big win.

Smother really is the best word I can come up with to describe that game, and it wasn’t only Wall, Cousins, and company doing the smothering. You see, the fans decked out in that offensive orange color were desperately outnumbered by the Big Blue. From time to time the UT band would try to lead a quick verse of Rocky Top. They had minimal success. Every attempt turned into chants of “Go Big Blue” with the tune of Rocky Top faintly in the background. Good times.

Anyway, back to the game. We’ve lamented much of the season the fact that UK seldom is able to deal a final knockout blow to opponents. After a first half that ended with a UK flurry, the second half started in a familiar fashion.

UT treaded water and eventually cut a once 13 point lead down to six. Vibes of “here we go again” were prevalent. However, that did not happen today. UK took a punch and delivered a Mike Tyson circa 1987 counterpunch. Eric Bledsoe and Darnell Dodson drained some much needed threes. John Wall orchestrated and facilitated. DeMarcus Cousins grabbed pretty much every rebound, absorbed some significant blows, and finally made a couple free throws. Patrick Patterson was somewhat quiet, but did deliver a thunderous dunk that pretty much clinched it and nearly broke the wrists of anybody in the vicinity.

The offense was nice, but it was the defense that made this intense, at times chippy matchup a laugher. Tennessee had no means to score on a consistent basis, and with UK back on it’s rebounding game, second chance opportunities were in short supply.

This was a fun one to win and was probably the most enjoyable UK game that I have attended this season. Handing Bruce Pearl his worst loss as coach of the Vols was particularly nice. Plus, even though Tennessee fans were desperately outnumbered, they were not shy. Some tried to match the obnoxiousness of the color of their clothes with their behavior. Kentucky fans, for their part, weren’t exactly a choir-like. That combativeness made the W that much better.

That’s about all I’ve got for now. It’s time to get ready for a Mississippi State team desperate to prove they belong. Selection Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year and I can’t think of a better place to spend it than the Music City with about 40,000 of my closest ‘Cats brethren.