The Kentucky Wildcats traveled to Knoxville this evening for a matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers. After some fight in the first half, the Cats crumbled late dropping another game, 28-18.
In a game that most of the fanbase was checked out on and fully expected a blow-out, Mark Stoops and this Kentucky team responded. Taking on the underdog role once again, similar to Ole Miss earlier this season, the Cats went punch for punch with the No. 7 team in the country. Including some impressive end-of-half time management, Coach Stoops and UK took a 10-7 lead into halftime… Giving plenty of the BBN hope.
Well, that hope disappeared in the second half as the Cats reverted back to the team we have seen the majority of this season, especially on offense. With three turnovers, this Kentucky team is just not made to overcome any kind of tribulation.
Vandagriff was forced from the game after a mixed start, and Gavin Wimsatt was largely ineffective in the second half, the second time in as many weeks.
Add in the fact they struggle to pass block each play, and coming back from any type of deficit is almost impossible.
With tonight’s loss, the Cats have moved to 3-6 and have dates with Texas, Murray State, and Louisville to end the season. Now, with injuries to Vandagriff and Barion Brown, the end of the season can not come soon enough.
We have to give this one to Jamarion Wilcox.
He finished the night with 17 carries for 102 yards, with a long of 50 coming on the first drive of the night.
The redshirt freshman running back has continued to make impressive plays all season, and that continued tonight in Knoxville. When the offense needs an explosive play, Wilcox has proved he is the guy who can make it happen at any moment on the ground.
Let’s hope we get to see him making these plays in Lexington for quite some time.
We also need to give a shout-out to Jamon Dumas-Johnson. The guy continues to ball on defense, but unfortunately, this UK team is just not putting it together well enough to make his impressive season a big enough talking point.
What a scripted start for Bush Hamdan. Kentucky pass game is cooking early hitting digs, gos, seams, and quick throws to Barion Brown off motion.
Cats taking it to this top-5 defense early.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 3, 2024
Kentucky has led at the half only 3 times this year in the SEC.
vs Georgia
at Ole Miss
at Tennessee— Steven Peake (@StevenPeakeKSR) November 3, 2024
Kentucky always goes away from the run in the second half. How’s that worked out?
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) November 3, 2024
And that is why your QB1 is your QB1.
Run the ball and get the field goal.
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) November 3, 2024
Ja’Mori Maclin receiving yards the last 7 games: 23
Ja’Mori Maclin receiving yards on the TD catch: 32
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) November 3, 2024
Kentucky played better than expected tonight. Just a tough season..
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) November 3, 2024
Tennessee missed 3 field goals and dropped 2-would be touchdowns.
UK lost by 10.
Don’t get the moral victory takes tonight.
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) November 3, 2024
Outside of today’s game, the Kentucky basketball program also received a huge commitment this afternoon, as 4-star guard Acaden Lewis committed to Mark Pope and the Cats.
With a couple of in-state recruiting wins with Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno, this is the first big statement made by this UK staff. Not only did they secure one of the best guards in the class, while they beat out UCONN and Duke for his services.
Let’s take a look at how Twitter reacted to the news of his commitment earlier today:
The last one is an interesting tweet from 2025 5-star recruit Caleb Wilson. There’s been a lot of talk that Wilson wants to play with Lewis in college…
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