Weird Things Often Happen at Memorial Gym between Kentucky and Vanderbilt

For most people, the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game tonight is not a game that has been circled this season as a key game on the schedule. Vanderbilt is not very good, although probably better than previous years. Kentucky has several very big games surrounding tonight’s contest. So this isn’t one that fans viewed as “must-see TV.” But, while the quality of the game might not be one of the best this year, something strange always happens at Memorial Gym in Nashville.

Some of these I am sure you’ve forgotten but just remember how strange, exciting, surprising, and impactful some of the recent games have gone:

2021: Kentucky 82, Vanderbilt 78

Kentucky came into the game 2-6. Morale was at an all-time low. And do you remember who starred in that game? Jacob Toppin. Toppin came into the game with 24 points ON THE SEASON. He scored 16 in the game. Another weird fact from this one: Kentucky received a technical foul for playing with six players at one point in the game.

2020: Kentucky 78, Vanderbilt 64

Kentucky trailed by 9 at halftime and then outscored Vandy by 23 in the 2nd half alone. Want another weird stat from the game? Ashton Hagans had 10 rebounds in the game and finished 2 assists shy of a triple-double.

2019: Kentucky 87, Vanderbilt 52

Halftime score: Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 15.

2008: Kentucky 52, Vanderbilt 93

Halftime score: Vanderbilt 41, Kentucky 11. Second-largest margin of defeat in modern UK history.

2003: Kentucky 74, Vanderbilt 52

Kentucky was languishing through a mediocre season and found itself down 8 at halftime to an unranked Vandy team. In the 2nd half, they won by THIRTY and provided the defensive intensity that would lead them to a #1 seed by the end of the season.

2001: Kentucky 79, Vanderbilt 74

The final score wouldn’t suggest a classic but Kentucky led this game by 19 points and then found itself down 2 with 6 minutes to play. Tayshaun Prince made the big plays down the stretch as Kentucky survived a collapse.

1998: Kentucky 63, Vanderbilt 61

After Vandy hits a crippling three with 4 seconds left, this happens: