Shorthanded Alabama wins Rupp Arena for first time since 2006

With three starters in a battle for the SEC’s top spot, Alabama left Rupp Arena victorious for the first time in 15 years thanks to a three-point play-off against an emotionally exhausted Kentucky basketball team.

Alabama did not have a starting point guard Jahvon Quinerly in the lineup and two other starters, Herb Jones and Jordan Bruner, left the game with injuries. Despite the setback, Nate Oats’ side earned an 85-65 victory, their first career victory over Kentucky.

The Crimson Tide started the night on fire, making 10 of the top 22 three pointers. They first withdrew from the UK after the Wildcats went through another dramatic drought. UK only made two shots in the 8:27 final of the first half. Meanwhile, a 13-1 run in Alabama finally put the game out of reach. Alabama finished the night 14 of 30 from three points.

In addition to the three in Alabama, the turnover bug stung the UK for the first time in 2021. An issue that plagued Kentucky in the first half of the season, Alabama turned 19 figures to British affairs in 29 points.

Kentucky weren’t like the team that had just won three straight games to start playing in the SEC. It’s because they weren’t the same team. The unexpected death of former teammate Ben Jordan weighed on the locker room. One moving night at Rupp Arena, the Wildcats honored their dead friend in different ways they just couldn’t do it with their game.