Short-Handed Kentucky Showcases Depth in Gritty SEC Road Win Over Tennessee

Tuesday night marked the 20th game of Kentucky’s season, but for the first time all year, the Wildcats took the floor with a starting five featuring Ansley Almonor and Koby Brea. Forced into the lineup due to injuries to key starters Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr, the duo delivered on the big stage, propelling Kentucky to a crucial 78-73 road victory over No. 8 Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena.

For a team looking to snap a two-game losing streak, the stakes were high. Kentucky, ranked No. 12 in both the USA TODAY Coaches and AP Top 25 polls, found itself in hostile territory against a Tennessee squad that had yet to lose at home this season. But thanks to standout performances from Almonor and Brea, the Wildcats (15-5, 4-3 SEC) handed the Volunteers (17-4, 4-4 SEC) their first home defeat after an 11-0 start. Coincidentally, the last time Tennessee lost on its home floor was also against Kentucky, in last season’s regular-season finale.

This game played out much differently than that March showdown. While last year’s meeting featured star performances—including a 40-point explosion from Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and 27-point outings from Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Antonio Reeves—this time, it was unsung heroes who stole the show.

Brea, who made only 10 starts last season for Dayton but played significant minutes as one of the nation’s best three-point shooters, continued to prove his value. Entering Tuesday, he ranked second in the country in three-point shooting percentage, trailing only Missouri’s Caleb Grill. Against Tennessee, he was flawless from the field, sinking all five of his shots—including three from beyond the arc—to finish with a team-high 18 points.

“Man, he makes hard shots, doesn’t he?” Kentucky head coach Mark Pope said. “Great shooters shoot and make shots. I think he’s arguably the best shooter in all of basketball.”

Brea’s impact went beyond scoring. He matched his season-high with three assists and played a key role on the defensive end, bringing an energy that Pope described as “contagious.” His ability to penetrate and create for teammates added another dimension to Kentucky’s offense, something center Amari Williams emphasized postgame.

“The way he was able to get downhill, kick it out — just the playmaking he did tonight was something that we knew he could do,” Williams said. “He just had to go out there and prove it. So you love it.”

Almonor, meanwhile, brought a different but equally valuable presence. A two-year starter at Fairleigh Dickinson before transferring to Kentucky, he had largely embraced his role off the bench this season. But when called upon to start for the second consecutive game, he once again proved he was ready.

Against Vanderbilt, he knocked down four three-pointers on five attempts. On Tuesday, he repeated the feat, drilling four triples on seven attempts to finish with 12 points. His sharpshooting stretched Tennessee’s defense and gave Kentucky much-needed firepower.

“It’s Ansley Almonor that makes a team special,” Pope said.

He elaborated further, emphasizing the impact of selfless, team-first players like Almonor.

“Every team has a ‘headline headline guy.’ The player everyone knows. The superstar,” Pope said. “Not every team has an Ansley Almonor. Especially a senior that’s like, ‘I’ll do whatever the team needs. If you play me tonight, I’ll go play great. If you don’t, I’ll still be here supporting my guys.’ Those are the players that go on to do insanely amazing things in life. He’s really special.”

The timing of Almonor and Brea’s standout performances couldn’t have been better for Kentucky. With Butler’s return from a shoulder injury still uncertain and Carr playing just two minutes Tuesday due to ongoing back issues, the Wildcats needed reinforcements. The duo delivered, proving that Kentucky has the depth to withstand adversity and compete at the highest level.

For Pope, the win reinforced something he had believed about this team long before the season began.

“We were like, ‘We will have resilience, because these guys are loving each other enough that we’re a really good team,'” Pope said. “It’s also challenging, right? But we do feel like we can withstand punches—like, we can withstand rough stretches.

“And we can get better from them.”

If Tuesday’s game was any indication, Kentucky’s ability to adapt and lean on its depth could be the key to making a deep run in the SEC and beyond.