Episode 161: Vols crush Kentucky, send statement

GoVols247's Wes Rucker and Grant Ramey went into Fort Rucker Studio — or the Fort Rucker Sun Room, in this case — to break down seventh-ranked Tennessee’s 71-52 win over fourth-ranked Kentucky in a rocking Thompson-Boling, and what it means for the Vols moving forward.Those suggesting Tennessee was in trouble following a rough loss to Kentucky two weeks ago and a tough-luck loss at LSU last weekend probably aren’t singing the same tune after the Vols avenged that 17-point loss in Lexington with a 19-point win in Knoxville and kept themselves tied atop the SEC standings heading into the final week of the regular season.Beyond the SEC championship race, though, Saturday’s win had even bigger implications for the bigger prizes. Tennessee is virtually certain to climb back into the top-five of both major polls when they’re updated Monday afternoon, and several NCAA Tournament bracket experts  moved the Vols back into the No. 1 seed line — though a potential SEC Tournament semifinal game against Kentucky might settle that.Tennessee’s defense has reemerged at a good time. The Vols held Kentucky to 14-of-44 shooting from the field, and Kentucky had never made so few field goals in any game in the Calipari era. What has changed so suddenly for the Vols on that side of the ball? And how have the Vols done that despite the suddenly unavoidable foul trouble for senior forward and defensive anchor Kyle Alexander? And why can’t Alexander seem to catch a break these days? Those questions are discussed in this episode.Several more topics — especially Tennessee junior point guard Jordan Bone’s career-best offensive performance against Kentucky, and Vols junior Grant Williams arguably wrestling back the SEC Player of the Year award (which he won last season) from Wildcats star PJ Washington — also are discussed in this episode.