The Kentucky Wildcats secured their fourth victory of the season against an AP top-10 opponent, extending their streak of success in Knoxville with a third consecutive road win over the Tennessee Volunteers. This impressive feat dates back to January 2023 and has seen Kentucky overcome significant odds each time.
Once again, Kentucky entered Food City Arena as a major underdog, this time with a +10.5 spread—their largest of the season. Similarly, in January 2023, the Wildcats were also +10.5 underdogs, arriving in Knoxville with a 10-6 overall record and a struggling 1-3 mark in SEC play. Despite these challenges, Kentucky pulled off a gritty 63-56 victory, fueled by Antonio Reeves’ 18 points and Oscar Tshiebwe’s dominance on the boards with 13 rebounds.
The following year, in the final game of the regular season, Kentucky entered Knoxville as +8.5 underdogs with a much stronger 22-8 overall record and a 12-5 SEC standing. The Wildcats managed to secure an 85-81 win, led by outstanding performances from Antonio Reeves and Reed Sheppard, who each scored 27 points.
Knoxville has proven to be a favorable venue for Kentucky in recent seasons, but the rivalry is far from over. Tennessee will have another chance to even the score when they visit Rupp Arena on February 11th, having won there last season. The availability of key players Andrew Carr and Lamont Butler for the rematch remains uncertain.
Given the circumstances surrounding each of Kentucky’s three straight wins in Knoxville, this latest victory may have been the most impressive of them all.
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