Isaiah Briscoe hasn’t forgotten what transpired the last time Kentucky played Tennessee.
“We let one get away from us,” The Kentucky guard said Wednesday.
Indeed, the Wildcats (19-6, 9-3 Southeastern Conference) did just that, blowing a 21-point lead, resulting in an 84-77 setback to the Volunteers earlier this month. The two teams will meet in a rematch Thursday at Rupp Arena.
Like Briscoe, Kentucky coach John Calipari remembers the Knoxville meltdown.
“We had a nice lead (in the first half) and they came back and basically just ran us over,” Calipari said. “(They) beat us by 30 in a 25-minute stretch. So we’ve got our hands full in what we’re doing. And again, how we’re preparing we’re just trying to say we’re not backing up. Let’s keep going forward.”
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said his team’s successful comeback was one of the best performances the Volunteers have put together this season and hasn’t changed his opinion of the Wildcats despite the seven-point victory more than three weeks ago.
“When you think about it, we were down and played really out of our minds and played the best we’ve played at any point in time this year, to get back, and fortunately, win that game,” he said during the SEC coaches teleconference earlier this week. “You go back and see – again, they’re just playing great. I mean, I think their defense has been outstanding. I think the fact that the roles have been totally defined.”
Since the loss to the Vols, Kentucky, No. 14 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25, has rebounded in positive fashion. The Wildcats have won three straight games, including an 89-62 rout of South Carolina last weekend. Kentucky has defeated its past three opponents — Florida, Georgia and South Carolina — by an average of 26.7 points per game.
Briscoe said the team’s improvement on defense has led to the recent surge. Briscoe said the biggest difference has been the team’s focus defensively.
“We’re just talking on defense and being more vocal,” he said. “We’re just playing for one another instead of playing for yourself.”
Kentucky freshman guard Charles Matthews agreed, adding the Wildcats are “scrambling more” and “helping each other out.”
“(We’re) covering for each and everyone’s mistakes,” Matthews said. “We know that we have each other’s backs now, so we can press up on the ball more.”
Calipari said the progression has allowed the Wildcats to become “empowered,” a trademark his teams have developed, especially down the stretch, during his seven seasons at the school.
“They’re getting there,” Calipari said. “I think you’re seeing each guy flow into a role that suits him, and that’s what this is about.”
Since the win over Calipari’s squad, Tennessee (12-13, 5-7) has lost two of its past three games, including a 75-64 loss at league cellar dweller Missouri last weekend. Although the Volunteers own conference wins over South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida, Tennessee has struggled on the road and is 1-8 in games played away from Thompson-Boling Arena.
Despite the lack of success on the road, Calipari is expecting an equally close encounter the second time around.
“We’re worried about Tennessee,” he said. “We’re not worried about anyone after that. We’re worried about what we’re doing in this game and how we’ll play. Rick’s (Barnes) is doing a great job like he always does. They’ve taken on his personality. They’re defending. They’re tough. They’re packing it in defensively. They’re playing you, but everyone else is in the lane. They’re rebounding like crazy. They’ve got some guards that can score.
“They’re scoring – even with their size – they’re scoring around the basket. Playing man, playing some zone. Will press you a little bit. He’s doing a heck of a job with his team.”
Like his coach, Briscoe hopes the second time against the Vols is the charm.
“They played a great game at home and we’ll get our chance to get back at them,” he said.
Game tracker: Tennessee at Kentucky, 7 p.m., Thursday. TV/Radio: ESPN, 98.1 FM WBUL
Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports writer who covers University of Kentucky athletics for KyForward.com