On January 28, 2025, the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats secured a 78-73 victory over the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers in a closely contested Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup in Knoxville, Tennessee. This win marked Kentucky’s fourth in their last five games, improving their overall record to 15-5 and 4-3 in SEC play.
Game Overview
Kentucky’s offense was led by Koby Brea, who scored 18 points, while Jaxson Robinson added 17 points, Otega Oweh contributed 14 points, and Ansley Almonor made 12 points on four 3-pointers. Amari Williams also played a pivotal role, achieving a season-high 15 rebounds along with 10 points. The Wildcats demonstrated impressive shooting, hitting 50% from the field and 12 of 24 from 3-point range.
Tennessee’s Igor Milicic Jr. led the Volunteers with 19 points and nine rebounds. Despite a strong effort, the Volunteers fell short, bringing their record to 17-4 and 4-4 in conference play. Tennessee trailed by 11 points in the second half and, although they managed to close the gap to three points, they missed nine consecutive field-goal attempts, allowing Kentucky to maintain their lead.
Injury Concerns
Kentucky played without key player Lamont Butler due to injury. Tennessee also faced injury challenges during the game, including Zakai Zeigler’s apparent knee issue.
Post-Game Reactions
Kentucky’s head coach, Mark Pope, expressed optimism about the team’s performance despite the absence of Butler and the limited contribution from Andrew Carr, who played only two minutes due to a back injury. Pope noted that Carr made it through the game without exacerbating his injury and expressed hope for Butler’s return.
Tennessee’s head coach, Rick Barnes, acknowledged the team’s struggles, particularly their defensive performance, and emphasized the need for improvement as they prepare for upcoming games.
