Tennessee Vols lose SEC title to Kentucky 77-72

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The year was 1979 and it brings back lots of memories. It was the year ESPN was born and the same year of Magic vs Bird. It was also the last time the Vols beat the Wildcats three times in route to their last SEC Men’s basketball championship.

Yesterday, the Vols got a third shot to beat Kentucky and win that SEC title that has eluded them for nearly 40 years. Of course, it has been said that beating a team three time in one year is not that easy to do. That proved to be correct as the Vols fell to the Wildcats 77-72.

Kentucky started out fast as they could not miss for most of the first half. At one point, they led Tennessee 33-16 in what looked like a blowout in the making. The Vols would go to their Admiral and close out the half on a 15-3 run and it was 36-31 at the break.

ALL-#SECTOURNEY TEAM@admiralelite15
+ 17.0 ppg
+ 8.3 rpg pic.twitter.com/3iAnm1xAhi

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 11, 2018

In the second half, UT would take the lead on an Admiral Scholfield three to make it 41-38 capping a 25-5 run. Kentucky would then follow that up with a 14-2 run of their own to take a 52-43 lead. Another run by the Vols would bring them back to within 57-55 with just over eight minutes to play.

Tennessee was able to take the lead once again at 62-61, but that is when they began to shoot themselves in the foot. Head coach Rick Barnes had told his team that without rebounding they would lose this type of game and so it was.

In two possessions the Vols would allow the Wildcats offensive rebounds that resulted in second-chance points that would basically seal the deal for Kentucky. They still had a chance to tie the game at the end, but the Wildcats hit their free throws and punched their ticket to the Big Dance.

Tennessee goes into March Madness as a three seed in the South Region and will play Wright St Thursday in Dallas TX. Kentucky will go to Boise ID. in the same region to play Davidson.

March Madness is an exciting time of year when brackets are filled out across the country. Many fans will be placing their bets and hoping to win big by the time the final two teams make it to San Antonio. Many somebody’s will be anxious to see if they win it big as will the two teams that will meet for the chance to be called NCAA basketball champs.

Ah, what a wonderful time of year this is, so sit back and enjoy the fun that is called March Madness.