KENTUCKY Wildcats have produced a seriously impressive upset over the Tennessee Volunteers to the tune of 11 points in front of over 20,000 fans at Rupp Arena in the NCAAM on Wednesday afternoon.

The 15th seeded Wildcats needed to bring their A-game against a Tennessee side that had won 17 of its 21 matches and was ranked fifth coming into the clash. With both sides full of in-form players, it was sure to be a massive contest.

Kentucky got off to a flying start, scrapping its way to a seven-point lead at the first change and looking the better of the two teams after 20 minutes of action. However, the Volunteers made quite the run in the second half, taking the lead with seven minutes to play and looking likely to overrun the home side.

However, some big makes down the stretch from both in the paint and behind the arc was enough to get the Wildcats home in one of their most impressive wins of the season.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be casting an eye over how the key players performed in the match, as some of the NCAAM’s best and brightest continue to display their craft on a nightly basis.

Kentucky Wildcats (75) def. Tennessee Volunteers (64)

Kentucky Wildcats:

#00 Otega Oweh

It was another impressive performance from Oweh, who continues to be one of Kentucky’s biggest offensive threats. Although not his most efficient performance when it comes to shooting the ball, the guard kept his streak of double-digit scoring performances rolling, and maintained a healthy balance of inside and outside shotmaking. He was full of energy from the jump ball, helping the Wildcats get off to a hot start, and although he cooled off somewhat in the second half, his ability to draw contact ensured he was still troubling the scorers. The guard finished with 13 points (4/11 FG), six boards and a pair of blocks in another rock-solid performance.

#9 Trent Noah

It was an incredibly important shooting performance from Noah in the context of the result, with the forward pouring in some long-range daggers over the course of the match. A trio of three-pointers in the first half certainly helped the Wildcats gain scoreboard ascendancy, with his ability to stretch the floor and hit shots from a foot behind the arc putting the defence on the ropes. Although he was not as damaging in the final 20 minutes of the match, his nine first-half points (11 for the match) were crucial in helping Kentucky snatch momentum of the contest.

#15 Ansley Almonor

An efficient scorer, Almonor made every post a winner to knock down some vital shots for the ‘Cats in their upset win. It was purely buckets from the forward, who recorded just a sole rebound as his only other statistic for the match. Two three-pointers in the space of a couple of minutes early in the second half was crucial for Kentucky, with 11 of his 13 points coming in the second half when the hosts were able to hold off the Volunteers. Almonor made four of his five attempts from the field and only took high-percentage shots in a smart showing.

Tennessee Volunteers:

#5 Zakai Zeigler

One of two Tennessee players to put their team on their back on the offensive end, Zeigler played an instrumental part in getting the Volunteers back into the contest in the second half. He posted 10 points in the final 20 minutes of the match, and was getting involved as a passer as well, setting up teammates in transition and helping Tennessee get some momentum back. Although his side fell short, Zeigler was still one of the standout players on the court, finishing with numbers of 17 points (a game-high figure on 7/11 shooting) and six assists.

#7 Igor Milicic Jr.

Another Volunteer that can hold his head high despite the final result, Milicic Jr. was immense as the visitors mounted a comeback in the second half. He scored 13 of his 16 points in a quick burst out of half time, and was the biggest catalyst for a turnaround in form from the Volunteers. Whether it was knocking down triples in front of the defence or driving into the lane to take on an intimidating Kentucky frontcourt, he showed no fear despite the deficit, and finished the match shooting 6/9 from the field in an inspired effort.