Jodie Meeks on 54-point night in Knoxville: "My life is changed forever"
[caption id="attachment_300332" align="alignnone" width="1024"] (Charles Bertram/Getty Images)[/caption]
Former Kentucky star Jodie Meeks made history in Knoxville just over 12 years ago, putting up a career-high 54 points against the Tennessee Volunteers on January 13, 2009, breaking the school's single-game scoring record previously held by Dan Issel (53 points) for 39 years.
12 years after the historic moment, Meeks still can't believe it happened.
"It's one of those magical feelings. I didn't know what to expect, or really what to feel that game," the former Kentucky star said in an interview with BBN Tonight. "I knew I had a big game, but I didn't know it was that big as far as nationwide and in Kentucky basketball history. I didn't even know what the record was at the time. That night driving back home on the team bus, and when I woke up the next morning, I'm like, "Man, my life is changed forever."'
Meeks, who broke the scoring record on an efficient 15-22 shooting overall, 10-15 from three and 14-14 from three to go with right rebounds, four assists and one steal in 39 minutes, said his blistering-hot shooting night felt like a dream.
"Usually you only get that type of feeling for a quarter or a half, four or five minutes. That was one of those games where I was feeling in the zone the whole entire game," Meeks said. "... It was like I was dreaming, but I was aware of everything. I wish I could have every game like that, but that's not reality. It was a great feeling.
"I was more excited that we won, that was my first time winning in Knoxville. It was a hard place to play, still is. Having a big game like that and losing would've still been a story, but it wouldn't have been as big I don't think."
A bit of a historian himself, he knew of Kentucky legends such as Dan Issel and Jack Givens, but never imagined he would top them both, along with the rest of the stars to come through the program, on the single-game scoring list.
"When I got on campus, all I heard about was "the Horse" for one, and "the Goose," in Memorial Coliseum. I knew my history, but I didn't know exactly what the record was at the time, I just knew a lot of legends had big games," he said. "To be placed on top of that as far as the scoring record, it's amazing. It's pretty mind-blowing to me. I didn't expect anything like that to happen."
https://twitter.com/LEX18News/status/1358098131766841344?s=20
Relive the historic performance with all 54 of Meeks' points below:
https://youtu.be/GY2dfOhZ3rM
Kentucky is set to host Tennessee at Rupp Arena this evening at 8 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast live on ESPN.
(Charles Bertram/Getty Images)[/caption]
Former Kentucky star Jodie Meeks made history in Knoxville just over 12 years ago, putting up a career-high 54 points against the Tennessee Volunteers on January 13, 2009, breaking the school's single-game scoring record previously held by Dan Issel (53 points) for 39 years.
12 years after the historic moment, Meeks still can't believe it happened.
"It's one of those magical feelings. I didn't know what to expect, or really what to feel that game," the former Kentucky star said in an interview with BBN Tonight. "I knew I had a big game, but I didn't know it was that big as far as nationwide and in Kentucky basketball history. I didn't even know what the record was at the time. That night driving back home on the team bus, and when I woke up the next morning, I'm like, "Man, my life is changed forever."'
Meeks, who broke the scoring record on an efficient 15-22 shooting overall, 10-15 from three and 14-14 from three to go with right rebounds, four assists and one steal in 39 minutes, said his blistering-hot shooting night felt like a dream.
"Usually you only get that type of feeling for a quarter or a half, four or five minutes. That was one of those games where I was feeling in the zone the whole entire game," Meeks said. "... It was like I was dreaming, but I was aware of everything. I wish I could have every game like that, but that's not reality. It was a great feeling.
"I was more excited that we won, that was my first time winning in Knoxville. It was a hard place to play, still is. Having a big game like that and losing would've still been a story, but it wouldn't have been as big I don't think."
A bit of a historian himself, he knew of Kentucky legends such as Dan Issel and Jack Givens, but never imagined he would top them both, along with the rest of the stars to come through the program, on the single-game scoring list.
"When I got on campus, all I heard about was "the Horse" for one, and "the Goose," in Memorial Coliseum. I knew my history, but I didn't know exactly what the record was at the time, I just knew a lot of legends had big games," he said. "To be placed on top of that as far as the scoring record, it's amazing. It's pretty mind-blowing to me. I didn't expect anything like that to happen."
https://twitter.com/LEX18News/status/1358098131766841344?s=20
Relive the historic performance with all 54 of Meeks' points below:
https://youtu.be/GY2dfOhZ3rM
Kentucky is set to host Tennessee at Rupp Arena this evening at 8 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast live on ESPN.
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