Kenny Brooks and Kentucky went on the road to Knoxville and, just like in Starkville, couldn't pull out a win. Kentucky was held to just seven first-quarter points, a season-low according to ESPN. However, the entire game can be broken down into just two things: turnovers and missed free throws.
Now with three losses in the SEC and four on the year, the Cats are most likely out of the running for an SEC title. The goal now will be to try to climb into that 2-seed line; the loss in Knoxville really won't hurt that, as the Vols are number 17. In the regular season, the goal shifts to getting a double-bye and finishing in the top four in the SEC. That is a crowded field, as you can see:
- Vanderbilt (6-0 Conf, 20-0 Overall)
- Tennessee (6-0 Conf, 14-3 Overall)
- South Carolina (5-1 Conf, 19-2 Overall)
- Texas (4-2 Conf, 19-2 Overall)
- LSU (4-2 Conf, 18-2 Overall)
- Ole Miss (4-2 Conf, 17-4 Overall)
- Kentucky (4-3 Conf, 17-4 Overall)
- Alabama (3-3 Conf, 17-3 Overall)
- Georgia (3-3 Conf, 17-3 Overall)
- Oklahoma (3-3 Conf, 15-4 Overall)
- Mississippi State (2-4 Conf, 15-5 Overall)
- Auburn (2-4 Conf, 13-7 Overall)
- Florida (1-5 Conf, 13-8 Overall)
- Texas A&M (1-5 Conf, 8-7 Overall)
- Missouri (1-6 Conf, 13-9 Overall)
- Arkansas (0-6 Conf, 11-10 Overall)
So, what went wrong down in Knoxville?
We wrote about the bench needing more minutes, and Lexi Blue did get 17, but Kaelyn Carroll got just three. And no other Lady Cat touched the floor. In a game where Tennessee is pressing constantly, no starter played less than 31 minutes. That is a lot to ask when the tempo is as ragged as Tennessee made this one.
The Cats also shot themselves in the foot repeatedly, missing nine free throws (16-25). You can't have that in any game, let alone a close one on the road.
"Just didn't always play smart, and we didn't make winning plays," Brooks said postgame. "In a game like this, you have to make winning plays, but we'll get back after it. But I am proud of their effort. And they gave me everything."
When asked about Jordan Obi, who had an awesome night finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Brooks was complimentary.
"You know, bless her heart. Played 36 minutes really hard, battling. You know she started cramping up towards the end, but I can't fault her effort today. If we can continue to get that from her, then we're going to be a better team. She gave us what I was asking for today."
The bench has to play; they have to be given the opportunity to mess up. Otherwise, the starters get run down, and they'll be injured as well. It's not all on Brooks; the players also need to step up when they come in. It is a two-way street.
The turnover issue
The turnovers though were just killer, and that could be some fatigue. Brooks said they "set women's basketball back 15 years today."
There were 21 total turnovers, and the majority of them were just mental letdowns on handoffs or failing to meet the pass. But the last one, boy, that will go down in infamy.
Despite all of the above, and Kentucky shooting just 38%, they had the ball with a chance to tie or win. Clara Strack missed an open three-pointer on the possession before, but they had one more chance. A jump ball meant Kentucky could inbound with two seconds left.
Tonie Morgan, your best playmaker, is bringing in the ball, and for some reason, she threw it right to Tennessee. The announcers thought she may have been trying to bounce it between the defender's legs, but it hit her more in the stomach.
When asked after the game what happened, Brooks explained the confusion.
"Only two seconds left. We were going to go into a quick hitter and clear up. Saw our numbers and I don't know, Tonie thought that time was running out and tried to do it off of her leg, but I thought she had an opportunity to get it inside."
Either way, that is a tough way to end the night. The Cats are back in action Sunday against Georgia in a game they need to win to prevent a three-game slide.