Tennessee heading back to Elite Eight following dominant win over Kentucky

Rick Barnes' Tennessee team is known as one of the toughest defensive groups in the country, holding opponents to just 28% shooting from 3-point range. But in two regular-season meetings with Kentucky this year, the Volunteers had no answer as the Wildcats combined to shoot 24-for-48 from downtown in the two victories.

"I think you've got to be on edge obviously," Barnes said Thursday when asked about meeting their SEC rival for a third time this season. "I attribute their success to some of the actions they run, and we didn't defend it. You can guard them, but when you let a team get confident, get a rhythm, it's even harder to break it."

The stress that the Volunteers were feeling entering the game translated into a furious start on the hardwood in Friday's regional semifinal, bringing a reversal to the regular-season script with a 78-65 victory to end Mark Pope's first season at the helm. On this night, it was Kentucky who was on its heels, as Tennessee swarmed the ball from the start. The Vols opened the game on a 17-7 run behind stout defense, rebounding, and the three-headed monster of Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey, who combined for 51 points. 

Tennessee imposed its grind-you-down style from the jump, holding the Wildcats to just seven points in the opening eight minutes of the game. The Vols were glued on Kentucky leading scorer Otega Oweh, holding him to just 11 points, while one of the best shooters in America, Koby Brea, was silent in Indianapolis, finishing 1-of-7 from the floor. 

For a Kentucky team that loves to let it fly from downtown, averaging 26 attempts per game, Tennessee turned the water off, holding the Wildcats to 6-of-15 from downtown. Combine that with a +10 advantage on the glass