John Pelphrey returned to the "cathedral" he helped build, but Kentucky wasn't in a sentimental mood on the court. After a slow start, the Wildcats exploded for a 104-54 win.
For a few minutes on Wednesday night, basketball felt secondary.
When John Pelphrey walked out of the tunnel at Rupp Arena, the years melted away. The former "Unforgettable," whose No. 34 jersey hangs in the rafters, wasn't the opposing coach of Tennessee Tech; he was family. The ovation from the Big Blue Nation was loud, long, and dripping with 41 years of gratitude for a player who stuck with the program during its darkest days.
But once the ball was tipped, the nostalgia trip ended abruptly—eventually.
After a sluggish start that had fans shifting uncomfortably in their seats, Kentucky (5-2) flipped the switch, burying the Golden Eagles 104-54 in a performance that turned into a full-blown party by the final buzzer.
The wake-up call for Kentucky basketball
Let’s be honest: The first 10 minutes were ugly.
Maybe it was the Thanksgiving Eve grogginess or the emotional pregame, but Kentucky looked flat. Tennessee Tech hung around, and the "here we go again" whispers started to float through the lower arena.
Then, the depth took over. Kentucky exploded for 61 points in the second half, shooting a blistering 70.6% from the field after the break. What started as a rock fight turned into a track meet, and Tennessee Tech simply didn't have the legs to keep up.
The bench mob eats
Mark Pope has been preaching depth all season, and tonight was the proof of concept. Three different Wildcats dropped 16 points, and two of them came off the bench.
Otega Oweh: 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He finally looked aggressive, getting to the line and attacking the rim.
Denzel Aberdeen: 16 points, 4-of-6 from deep. The Florida transfer continues to be a microwave scorer.
Trent Noah: The sophomore from Harlan County had his breakout moment. 16 points on nearly perfect shooting (5-of-6 FG, 4-of-5 3PT). When Noah is hitting shots like that, the roof comes off Rupp Arena.
You know it’s a good night when the end of the bench gets in on the action. With the game well in hand, Walker Horn drained a three-pointer (his only shot of the game), and Zach Tow added a free throw. Seeing the walk-ons score is the universal sign that order has been restored in the universe.
Pelphrey’s grace
After the game, the focus shifted back to the man on the visiting sideline. Pelphrey, who called Rupp Arena a "special cathedral" earlier this week, watched his young team get overwhelmed but handled it with the grace of a Kentucky legend.
He knew what was coming. He knew the talent gap. But for one night, he got to come home.
Enjoy the turkey and the blowout, folks, because the "fun" part of the schedule is over.
Kentucky did what they were supposed to do. They honored a legend, cleared the bench, and broke the century mark. But with North Carolina and Gonzaga looming next week, the margin for error just evaporated.
If the Wildcats start as slow against the Tar Heels as they did tonight, the result won't be nearly as fun. But for now, let's just appreciate a 50-point win and a proper salute to No. 34.