Trent Noah Isn’t Afraid of the Moment – Just Ask Tennessee

DrewFranklinKSR

trent-noah-tennessee — Feb 11, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trent Noah (9) celebrates after making a three point basket during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

There isn’t a player on Kentucky’s roster who knows the Kentucky-Tennessee rivalry better than Trent Noah. Noah grew up surrounded by the border rivalry in Harlan County, Kentucky, less than a half-hour drive from the Tennessee state line and two hours from Knoxville. Earlier this season, Noah said his family would sometimes travel south of the border to go out to eat or for his mom to get her hair done. Still, “me and family’s Kentucky through thick and thin,” Noah confirmed. “We’re Cats in our house.”

Trent Noah says he grew up so close to Knoxville his mom got her hair done there.

Trent says his family have always been Wildcats through and through.

He said that he wants to BBN to call his mother “The Mountain Momma” pic.twitter.com/61A0cMR0JZ
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) February 12, 2025

The Noah family’s proximity to Knoxville may be why two of the UK freshman’s best regular-season games came against the Vols. Though not exactly a homecoming, Kentucky’s game in Knoxville was played closer to Harlan County than Kentucky’s home games in Lexington, and it was there that Trent Noah hit one of the biggest shots of his young college career: a straight-away 3 from the logo in Thompson-Boling.

Deep catch and shoot 👌 is sooooo good from @trentnoah2_.

📺 – ESPN pic.twitter.com/vVqXWrT8ET
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 29, 2025

The long 3 gave Kentucky its largest lead over the Vols in Knoxville, extending the margin to 11 points after the Wildcats trailed at halftime. The shot may have said even more about Noah’s confidence. He didn’t see the floor in Kentucky’s first five SEC games, yet he still had the courage to shoot a deep 3, his first shot attempt in the rivalry game, with 17 seconds still on the shot clock.

Mark Pope said afterward, “Trent’s not afraid of the moment. He just out of nowhere says like, I’m going to launch this 30-footer and we’ll just see what happens. And (he’s) been great.”

A career-high in the rematch

Two weeks after Noah and the Wildcats upset the Vols in Noah’s backyard, Rupp Arena hosted the rematch, and Noah had more 3s in him. He came off the bench for 11 points in 19 minutes, going 3-4 from the field, all from 3-point land. The 11 points are a career-high and Noah’s only double-digit game this season.

Feb 11, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trent Noah (9) celebrates after making a three point basket during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Pope said of Noah’s performance, “How fun is that? How about a big, massive shout-out for Eastern Kentucky showing up today. It’s just really special. You know, we’ve got the Mountain Mamba. We’ve got the Hollar Baller, which may be my favorite. I give all the credit to Trent Noah’s family and his community and where he grew up.”

Noah was asked which Tennessee win he loved more, to which he replied, “I loved them both. They were both really special. It’s cool whenever you can do it in front of your home crowd, and it’s cool whenever you can be the villain and go into Knoxville and leave with the win, so I would say it’s 50/50.”

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Noah will likely have a favorite win in the series if he and Kentucky can beat the Vols a third time to advance to the Elite Eight.

Mountain Mamba in March Madness

Noah was a factor in the two regular-season games against Tennessee, with eyes set on Friday’s third meeting in the NCAA Tournament. He also showed he was ready for his first March Madness by contributing to Kentucky’s first two wins in the Big Dance.

In the first round, Noah sparked the game-changing run in the first half with a corner 3, the first of 10 straight points by the Wildcats. It was his only bucket of the game, but it was a big one because it created the separation Kentucky needed before halftime. Noah said it’s a shot he practiced on his mini-hoop while watching Kentucky in March Madness as a child.

Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Kentucky forward Trent Noah (9) celebrates the three pointer during the first half of their first round NCAA men’ s basketball tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jovanny Hernandez/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Against Illinois in the second round, Noah came up big before halftime again, drawing a foul on a 3 with one second on the clock. He hit two of three at the line to extend UK’s halftime lead from three to five. Noah had four first-half points in the win.

Does Noah have more March Madness in him? We’ll find out soon when Kentucky and Tennessee meet in the Sweet 16. One thing is certain: he won’t be afraid to take a big shot if needed. If he does it again, his mom may need to find a new salon north of the state line.