Tennessee’s 80-78 loss to Kentucky on Saturday afternoon inside the Food City Center didn’t just sting for Volunteers players, coaches and fans or serve as another early setback in the Southeastern Conference race.
It had a lingering effect that was felt again Monday.
The Vols were not among the top 25 teams in the latest Associated Press poll, ending a streak of 90 consecutive weeks that began with the 2021-22 preseason rankings. That 90-week run shattered the previous program high of 37 that was attained during the Jerry Green era from March 1999 to February 2001.
“You can’t sugarcoat it,” Tennessee 11th-year coach Rick Barnes said following Saturday’s defeat. “You can’t turn the ball over in late-game situations, and you can’t take bad shots. You’ve got to be connected there. There is no doubt that they want to win, but the other guys do, too, and you have to be together at the end of the game.
“You would like to think through our work and preparation that we know what to do, but guys get to playing fast, and they’re still learning. By now, we should know what goes into losing. We’ve shot ourselves in the foot so many times.”