National Media Breaks Down Surprising Kentucky win at Tennessee

Kentucky shocked the college basketball world when the Wildcats bounced back from back-to-back losses to knock off the No. 5 team in the country on the home court. While the Big Blue Nation was celebrating the 63-56 victory over Tennessee, national media members were sharing their thoughts about John Calipari’s team.

Jeff Goodman, Field of 68 After Dark

Jeff Goodman does the thing where he begins his analysis with his sharpest criticism, then slowly but surely softens. He’s the first to call for Sahvir Wheeler to continue to sit after the Wildcats performed well in his absence.

“It’s best to have Sahvir Wheeler coming off the bench, and I’ve been saying this all year. My whole thing all season has been spacing on this team. You need more shooters. We’ve talked about the system or lack thereof that Calipari is running, but I think part of it is the personnel too. When you have a 5-man who can’t step out, a 4-man who can’t step out and a point guard who’s not really much of a shooter, he’s made a few here or there, but that’s not his game. You just can’t do it in this day and age,” said Goodman.

“CJ Fredrick got his confidence up, he needed to make em. Antonio Reeves made them tonight and that just makes life easier for everybody. You know what they did? They rebounded the hell out of the ball today. They played tough as sh*t. After going down 8-0 at the outset, you thought they were dead and buried… I was really impressed with how tough they were.”

David Cobb, CBS Sports

“The program’s last NCAA Tournament victory came in 2019, and the team’s performance over the last week raised questions over whether these Wildcats have what it takes to even reach the Big Dance this season. A road win over the Volunteers changes the outlook, however. 

“Kentucky has a manageable stretch of games upcoming with home dates against Georgia and Texas A&M next week, followed by a game at Vanderbilt before a Big 12/SEC Challenge showdown at home with No. 2 Kansas on Jan. 28. If the Wildcats can use the momentum built against Tennessee to handle business over the next two weeks, they’ll have a chance to flip this season’s narrative entirely when the Jayhawks come to town.”

Gary Parrish, CBS Sports

“What a bounce-back win for the Wildcats. They might be the only team in the country that could lose to South Carolina at home and win at UT in a five-day span. No idea if it’s a season-changing victory. But it’s a good place to start.”

Myron Medcalf, ESPN

“(Kentucky’s) response to that early 8-0 deficit on the road against the best defense in America could be the lasting image of a fresh start for that program. Long way to go, but they can build off the fact they didn’t quit there.”

Jeff Borzello, ESPN

“One of the more stunning results of the season. Wildcats entered the weekend in disarray, program seemingly in turmoil, key players injured — and then they go into Tennessee and knock off the Volunteers. Huge for Kentucky.

“Kentucky fans — and neutral college basketball observers — have been clamoring for the Wildcats to play Wallace/Fredrick/Reeves together. Fredrick saw 37 mins. Reeves 30. Wallace played through injury. Spacing was better. More importantly, Kentucky was terrific defensively.”

Aaron Torres

1. The lineup Kentucky fans wanted, delivered
2. Kentucky has been abysmal from the foul line all year – they went 22 of 25 today
3. Tennessee probably wins the game if they can make layups
4. Refs were abysmal

Will say this on Kentucky: Sense I get from most fans is they don't *actually* want a new coach.

They just want Kentucky to look like Kentucky

For at least one day, that was vintage Calipari: Pulling out the win with his back against the wall

Let's see if there's some momentum

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) January 14, 2023

Jon Rothstein

“On Tuesday, Kentucky lost at home to South Carolina. Today, the Wildcats ended Tennessee’s 25-game home winning streak and beat the Vols in Knoxville. Anarchy? Nope. Just College Basketball.

“Regardless of how good Tennessee is defensively, today’s performance reiterates why the Vols will be America’s early upset pick on Selection Sunday unless they become more potent on offense.”