TAMPA, Fla. — In recent weeks, Kentucky had spoken of needing better defense on opposing guards.
That got accomplished. Scotty Pippen Jr., who scored 65 points in two regular-season games against Kentucky, made only 2 of 17 shots.
After Vanderbilt defeated Alabama in a second-round game Thursday, Pippen spoke of revenge against Kentucky.
“They’ve beaten us twice,” he said. “Haven’t beat them since I have been here, so a little bit of payback going into this game with a chip on our shoulder. A little bit of momentum we have, so it’s good to see them again and excited about it.”
That did not get accomplished.
Kentucky outplayed Vanderbilt, especially on the defensive end, in a possession-by-possession test of nerves.
Judging by the repeated roars from the crowd at Amalie Arena, Kentucky’s 77-71 victory over Vanderbilt was thrilling and satisfying.
Kentucky (26-6) advanced to a game against Tennessee in Saturday’s semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Vanderbilt, which came to Tampa looking to win five games according to coach Jerry Stackhouse, fell to 17-16.
Kentucky led 37-33 at halftime. But the many UK fans in attendance who roared repeatedly might have been slightly uncomfortable.
Pippen had only one basket in the opening 20 minutes. He also shot only three free throws.
Yet, Vandy hung in there. Jordan Wright, who went scoreless in the teams’ first regular-season matchup, was chiefly responsible for keeping Vandy in the game. He ended up scoring 27 points.
Kentucky came to the SEC Tournament touting its depth. John Calipari interpreted this as a stress relief for individual players.
“No pressure on you,” the UK coach said. “Be the best of the best. But if you don’t, we’re fine.”
That approach came into play not once, but twice in the first half.
Keion Brooks picked up his second foul at the 13:08 mark and went to the bench.
Jacob Toppin replaced Brooks and made an almost immediate impression. He hit a pull-up jumper 45 seconds after entering the game. That put Kentucky ahead 17-11 and was part of a 12-0 run that gave UK its largest first-half lead: 19-11.
On Vandy’s next possession, the Commodores got two offensive rebounds, then appeared to get a third opportunity by retrieving a loose ball. An apparent — and uncontested layup appeared in the offing, but Toppin came out of nowhere to block the shot.
UK fans roared.
Pippen made only 1 of 7 shots in the first half. But the one he made seemed to shift momentum to Vandy’s favor. He hit a 3-pointer while being fouled by Davion Mintz. The four-point play narrowed UK’s lead to 19-15.
Kentucky’s depth got another call with about five minutes left. That’s when Toppin left the bench area holding a towel to his face and headed toward the locker room.
Toppin played in the second half while wearing a plastic mask. He scored 10 points and blocked three shots.
Kentucky held Vandy without a basket in the final 2:53. In that time, Kentucky outscored the Commodores 7-2 to take the four-point lead at halftime.
It didn’t take long in the second half for UK to need to regroup.
Vandy sandwiched 3-pointers around a Kentucky turnover to take a 41-39 lead. That prompted a UK timeout with 17:56 left.
A layup by Pippen, who used a hesitation dribble to free himself from a defender, put Kentucky behind 46-39 with 16:37 left. That was only Pippen’s second basket and UK’s largest deficit yet.
Kentucky responded. With the shot clock down to the final seconds, Kellan Grady took and pass and hit a 3-pointer from a corner.
That began a 7-0 UK run that tied it at 46-46.
In the next three minutes, the run extended to 15-1.
Vandy went more than four minutes without a basket. In that time, UK three shots.
This ignited UK’s transition offense TyTy Washington contributed a fast-break layup and a corner 3. The later put UK ahead 54-47 and prompted a Vandy timeout with 12:08 left.
A technical foul was called on Stackhouse with 12:35 left. He apparently thought his shooter was fouled as he jumped into a defender. The contact did not result in a foul.
Mintz made one of the two technical free throws.
Although UK led 57-49, no lead was safe in this game.
A 7-0 Vandy run reduced the margin to 59-58. Most memorably, Oscar Tshiebwe saved a defensive rebound back under Vandy’s offensive basket. Robbins took the gift and dunked.
With the lead down to one point, Kentucky called timeout with 7:10 left.
