Kentucky embraces villain role in latest Journey video recapping comeback at Tennessee

“We’re the villains today, fellas. It doesn’t get any better than that — being the villain in this place.”

Those were Cody Fueger’s words to the team going into Kentucky‘s matchup in Knoxville, coming off an 18-point comeback win in Baton Rouge. The basketball world counted these Wildcats out, and now, they had a chance to make everyone pay for dismissing a possible turnaround.

That’s exactly how things unfolded inside Thompson-Boling Arena, turning a 17-point first-half deficit into an 80-78 victory to make it three straight double-digit comebacks when you include a 12-point response vs. Mississippi State. It’s Mark Pope’s first three-game SEC winning streak in the regular season since taking the job with two favorable home matchups ahead this week to potentially make it five in a row with real momentum after hitting rock bottom as a program.

“Their fans are always loud, always screaming at you. It’s just an environment you always want to be in,” Denzel Aberdeen said of the trip to Tennessee.

“It was a very hostile crowd there,” Collin Chandler added. “An environment like that, it juices us up to play at a high level.”

A high level, indeed, scoring 49 in the second half on 50% shooting and 60% from three while keeping the Volunteers without a single field goal in the final 5:38. They were tougher, more physical and more efficient to beat Rick Barnes in Knoxville for a fourth consecutive time and six of the last seven.

It wasn’t always pretty, though — that’s how you get down 17 in the first place.

“They’re really out guarding space, but we’re doing a great job moving the ball. Keep doing it,” Pope told the team during the early deficit. “On the defensive end, I need you guys to be a little more diligent. I want you to sprint up to ball screens, but otherwise, you guys need to be zoned up. We’re playing hard, we’re playing physical. Let’s keep going.”

Then they cut it to 11 at the break to give themselves an easier path to the comeback in the second half.

“You’re going to have a great second half — just be physical. You’ve got to be willing to do it. Guards, freaking get downhill and attack them,” Pope added at the halftime break. “Get downhill, make a second move, play off two feet and make a play for a teammate.”

They took that coaching and executed to perfection, led by Aberdeen with 18 second-half points, followed by Otega Oweh adding 10 and Mo Dioubate putting up eight points and four offensive boards down the stretch.

It was a finish to be proud of, turning into a massive water fight celebration in the locker room with a Gatorade bath for Pope — “I’m not scared of that!” he told Chandler and Malachi Moreno, who were waiting to dump the bucket on his head.

“Listen to me, I’ve been waiting to say this: I’ve known who you are, I know who we are,” Pope proudly said.

All episodes of The Journey are special, but this one takes the cake after knowing what this team has been through and had to overcome to get here. Take a look:

Any day you can be a villain in Knoxville is a good day. And the Cats had a good day.