Kentucky makes program history with upset victory over Tennessee

Kentucky defeated No. 5 Tennessee 63-56 in Knoxville Saturday, and for the first time in UK basketball history, an unranked Wildcats team has defeated an AP top-five team on the road, according to UK Athletics statistician Corey Price.

That isn’t a surprise in all honesty. Being one of the most storied programs in college basketball history, they’re used to being the top-five ranked team on upset watch from an unranked school.

Kentucky had been off the mark since entering SEC play. UK’s 1-3 record heading into Saturday was the second worst in the conference – but the statement win over the SEC’s reigning champions is a great way to get back on track.

The fanbase had lost a lot of faith in the players and head coach John Calipari, but the win will undoubtedly rejuvenate the interest of Big Blue Nation in this year’s squad. The Wildcats will look to ride this wave of momentum heading into Tuesday night’s game against a tough Georgia squad in Rupp Arena.

Jay Bilas weighs in on John Calipari rumors, future at Kentucky

In the wake of an up-and-down season for Kentucky, rumors continue to swirl connecting Wildcats coach John Calipari to the Texas opening amid reports about his future in Lexington. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas thinks he is likely to stay put.

Bilas responded to a report from Holly Rowe during the second half of Kentucky’s game against Tennessee Saturday afternoon in which Calipari said he plans to get through this season with his team. The Wildcats entered play Saturday with back-to-back losses, including one to South Carolina which ended a 28-game home winning streak, but Calipari predicted things would turn around.

“You guys are talking about the rough start to the season and the last couple of weeks, actually, for Kentucky. We talked to John Calipari about it today,” Rowe said. “He’s been mentioned, like, maybe he would be interested in the Texas job. All the rumors and circulating things that go around Kentucky when they lose two games. He said, ‘Absolutely not. I want to see this through. I absolutely believe that this team is going to break through at some point this year.’ I don’t know if he thought it would be today. 

“But he believes in this young group. He said they’ve just got to develop confidence. They are playing without two key players. John Calipari, he has seen a lot of ups and downs at Kentucky, but he is weathering this storm and I really loved his pregame approach.”