The Kentucky Wildcats entered Saturday night time’s matchup with the #7 Tennessee Volunteers under-manned and as a hefty 17.5-point underdog.
After three straight losses, the Cats had been searching for something constructive to cling to within the ruckus-filled setting inside Neyland Stadium.
16 Wildcats had been listed on Thursday’s damage report they usually had been with out eight key gamers, so it was going to take a monumental effort to even be aggressive in Knoxville taking part in in entrance of over 100,000 followers.
Regardless of the chances and momentum stacked towards them, Kentucky scored first on a 27-yard completion to Josh Kattus.
UK would go on to manage many of the first half, solely surrendering one rating to the Vols.
To the shock of many, it was Kentucky who would take a 10-7 lead into the locker room after half primary.
“We simply gotta carry on swinging. It’s only one half. Pleased with our guys, we did some good issues.” Mark Stoops stated on his approach off the sphere.
Kentucky battled by way of adversity however didn’t have sufficient within the tank to tug this one out, largely because of Brock Vandagriff leaving because of damage and being changed once more by an ineffective Gavin Wimatt.
A late third-quarter collapse actually sealed the deal within the recreation, because the Cats would go on to lose 28-18.
One other powerful tablet to swallow in a season that’s had loads of them.
Listed below are 4 issues to know for the newest Kentucky soccer setback.
Kentucky performs higher vs. prime competitors
It’s been a wildly inconsistent season for Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats.
At their lowest factors, it was onerous to think about how they ever took Georgia to the wire and beat Ole Miss on the street.
Tonight in Knoxville, the short-handed Cats reminded us of their capabilities.
It’s irritating to consider what might have been this season, realizing that this workforce has what it takes to maintain tempo with the highest applications in faculty soccer.
Kentucky will get one other probability at a top-10 workforce on the street once they journey to Texas on 11/23.
Accidents
You actually need to commend Kentucky’s effort tonight when you think about what number of gamers had been unavailable. The Cats had been already down eight key gamers to start the sport and misplaced each Brock Vandagriff and Barion Brown in the course of the contest to probably important accidents.
It could have been attention-grabbing to see what the UK might have executed with a full roster, however being banged up is the secret this late within the season.
If Vandagriff is to overlook any time, the offense should reinvent itself earlier than taking up Murray State.
Offense continues to sputter
Regardless of the aggressive effort towards a top-ten workforce, the Wildcat offense nonetheless lacks continuity and struggles to ascertain an identification.
You possibly can’t fault Brock Vandagriff’s will to win. He put his physique on the road again and again to maneuver the chains. He’d additionally go away with an damage within the second half.
Bush Hamdan rotated in Gavin Wimsatt, who sadly almost threw a late third-quarter pick-six. As an alternative, the Vols scored on the subsequent play. He would redeem himself on the subsequent drive, connecting with Ja’Mori Maclin for an unimaginable landing.
It didn’t assist a lot that the Cats misplaced Barion Brown to damage not lengthy after the sport started. He’s now on the lengthy listing of different banged-up gamers.
Again to the drafting board as soon as once more for the offense.
A much-needed week off
With out query, the Cats might use every week off to regroup. UK received’t take the sphere once more till 11/16 once they host Murray State at Kroger Subject.
The obvious purpose that Kentucky might use every week off is to get wholesome.
On Thursday, the Cats had 16 gamers listed in some type or style on the damage report.
That was earlier than Barion Brown went down early within the first quarter in Knoxville. So, evidently, resting up and getting therapy shall be the secret earlier than taking up Murray State in two weeks.
There’s nonetheless loads to play for this season, with two main video games remaining on the schedule towards the #6 Texas Longhorns and rival Louisville Cardinals. If the Cats can get wholesome, maybe the can win the finale. They clearly have the expertise to do it, even after Louisville simply received at No. 11 Clemson.
Now, let’s talk about what simply occurred.
