Kentucky Gets Back On Track Against Tennessee

USA Today

Showing long-range accuracy wasn’t enough for Kentucky guard Malik Monk, who made an even bigger impression going up for rebounds more often than even he expected.

Others also registered all-out effort on both ends and typified the complete performance that No. 13 Kentucky had sought for weeks.

Monk had 20 points and a career-high eight rebounds, Derek Willis had 16 points and Kentucky made 10 3-pointers in the first half to roll past Tennessee 83-58 on Tuesday night.

Averaging just 2.2 rebounds per game coming in, the 6-foot-3 Monk matched his previous five games combined on the glass. He ended up second to Bam Adebayo’s 12 boards on a night the Wildcats topped the Volunteers 43-35 in that area.

Seeking to stay atop the Southeastern Conference, the Wildcats avenged last month’s 82-80 road loss to the Volunteers with their best performance in a while. Long-range shooting provided the biggest lift as Kentucky (21-5, 11-2) made 11, its first double-digit effort from behind the arc in a month, as Monk and Willis each made four in the first half.

The Wildcats held Tennessee (14-12, 6-7) to 35 percent shooting and led by as many as 28 points in handing the Volunteers their third loss in four games.