Basketball is a game of numbers, but sometimes, those numbers make absolutely no sense. That was the case in Kentucky’s shocking 78-73 upset over Tennessee in Knoxville. On paper, the Vols dominated nearly every statistical category—but somehow, Mark Pope’s Wildcats walked out of Thompson-Boling Arena with a victory.
From Tennessee firing up a ridiculous amount of three-pointers to Kentucky not hitting a single field goal in the final five minutes, this game had some truly bizarre numbers.
Tennessee Took 22 More Shots—and Lost
Most of the time, if a team gets 22 more shot attempts than their opponent, they win. That’s just basic math. But not in this one.
- Kentucky: 25-for-50 (50%)
- Tennessee: 25-for-72 (34.7%)
The Vols put up a staggering 72 shot attempts to Kentucky’s 50, but their inefficiency cost them. Meanwhile, the Wildcats played smart, high-percentage basketball, hitting half of their shots and making the most of their possessions.
Tennessee Launched 45 Threes—A Record Against Kentucky
The Vols were absolutely determined to bomb away from deep—even though the shots weren’t falling. Tennessee hoisted 45 three-point attempts, the most ever by a Kentucky opponent.
Rick Barnes was not happy about that shot selection after the game.
“No, no. Absolutely not,” Barnes said when asked if he was okay with his team taking that many threes. “We’ve talked about it, but it’s hard to get the ball inside when you’re not making threes because they’re just going to keep backing up.”
Translation: Kentucky dared Tennessee to shoot, and the Vols took the bait.
The Wildcats used their length to shut down the paint, forcing Tennessee into a barrage of contested threes. And despite having a ton of second-chance opportunities, the Vols just kept firing from deep instead of attacking the rim.
Offensive Rebounds and Extra Possessions Meant Nothing
Tennessee absolutely owned the glass, especially on the offensive end.
- Offensive Rebounds: Tennessee 17, Kentucky 7
- Total Rebounds: Tennessee 41 Kentucky 38
Usually, when a team grabs 10 extra offensive rebounds, they create tons of second-chance points—but Tennessee didn’t capitalize. Instead of working for high-percentage looks, they settled for deep jumpers that weren’t falling.
Turnovers? Check. Fast Break Points? Check. Points in the Paint? Check. Still Lost.
Tennessee’s stat sheet looked like a winning formula:
- They forced more turnovers (Kentucky had 13, Tennessee had just 5).
- They scored more off turnovers (15-5).
- They blocked more shots (4-3).
- They scored more in the paint (24-20).
- They even had more fast-break points (7-5).
Yet, despite winning all these categories, they still lost the game.
Kentucky Didn't Make a Field Goal in the Last Five Minutes—and Won Anyway
Here’s the craziest stat of them all: Kentucky didn’t hit a single field goal in the last five minutes of the game… and still won.
In most close games, teams need a big shot down the stretch to seal the deal. Kentucky? They just played tough defense and hit free throws.
Tennessee had every chance to make a run in the final minutes, but their brutal shooting night prevented them from taking advantage.
How Did Kentucky Win?
When you look at all these lopsided stats, the Wildcats had no business winning this game. But they did, thanks to:
- Efficient shooting (50% from the field vs. Tennessee’s 34.7%).
- Forcing Tennessee into bad shots (Vols shot just 22.2% from three).
- Making free throws when it mattered
- Timely defensive stops despite struggling on the boards.
Sometimes, efficiency beats volume—and that’s exactly what happened in Knoxville.
Final Thoughts: A Win That Defied Logic
Statistically, Tennessee should have won this game. But basketball isn’t played on a spreadsheet. Kentucky took smarter shots, defended well, and handled the pressure down the stretch—and that was enough to walk out of Knoxville with a massive road win.
It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly didn't make sense, but hey, a win is a win. Up next a battle with Coach Cal on Saturday.