'More confident' Tennessee ready for another shot at Kentucky in the Sweet 16
INDIANAPOLIS — Igor Milicic Jr. has been counting down the days since February 11. Ever since Kentucky completed the regular-season sweep at Rupp Arena, Tennessee’s fifth-year senior wing has wanted another shot.
“Since they beat us twice, since they beat us at their place,” Milicic said on Thursday, “I’ve been hoping that we’re going to see them again, either in the SEC Tournament or in the March Madness.”
Tennessee (29-7), the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region, will finally see No. 3 Kentucky (24-11) again in the Sweet 16 Friday night (7:39 Eastern Time, TBS/TruTV) at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Tennessee-Kentucky winner advances to Elite Eight on Sunday
It’s been 45 days since the Vols lost 75-64 to the rival Wildcats in Lexington. Tennessee led 60-58 with 4:51 left, but Kentucky closed on a 17-4 run.
It’s been 60 days since the Vols lost 78-73 at home, where they went 11-for-45 from the 3-point line and missed 11 of their final 12 shots of the game over the final 3:21.
Six weeks later, though, Tennessee players claim this is a different Tennessee team.
In 11 games since the loss at Rupp, Tennessee is 9-2 with a 78-76 loss at Ole Miss and an 86-77 loss to Florida in the SEC Tournament championship game and wins over Auburn, Alabama and at Texas A&M.
“I feel like we’ve figured out the way how to play together more,” Milicic said. “And the toughness has come along.”
“I feel like we’re more confident now,” senior guard Jordan Gainey said. “We play within each other. We all pour into each other and we all know what we’re going out there to do and we all are going out there to compete for one goal.
“Whenever everyone’s locked in on that, we’re a really good team.”
The numbers have shown a different Tennessee team down the stretch.
The Vols were just 3-for-18 at the 3-point line in the loss at Kentucky and shot 22.2% from three in the two losses to UK.
Tennessee has shot 35.5% from three over the last 11 games, averaging 8.5 per game, and have scored 75.2 points per game.
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The offense is up to No. 17 in KenPom.com adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 120.6 points per 100 possessions. Kentucky is No. 10 at 123.8 points per 100 possessions.
‘Those last four minutes would’ve been crucial for us’
Tennessee’s defense is ranked No. 3 and is No. 1 at the 3-point line, despite Kentucky shooting 12-for-24 from three in both wins. The 17-4 run the Wildcats went on over the final 4:24 in Lexington left its mark on the Vols, though.
“Whenever we were up two, we didn’t really get a stop,” Gainey said. “That really hurt us because we put our pride and heart and soul on the defensive end and just being able to go out there and get some stops.
“Those last four minutes would’ve been crucial for us.”
The next 40 minutes against Kentucky will be exponentially more crucial, with a spot in Sunday’s Elite Eight on the line, against either No. 1 Houston or No. 2 Purdue.
Forget offense or defense, schemes or plays drawn up. Tennessee-Kentucky Round 3 will come down to moments and mindset.
“Do what we did through the whole year and just be tougher,” Milicic said. “One extra blockout, one extra forced turnover can flip the whole game around. So that’s going to be the difference between advancing to the Elite Eight or going home.”
