John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Josh Harrellson scored 23 points in Kentucky’s win over Louisville back on New Year’s Day. After that, howeve,r he scored just 41 points in Kentucky’s next nine games, an average of 4.6 points per game.

Last night, however, Harrellson hit seven-of-eight shots and made two-of-four three free throws for 16 points in the Cats’ 73-61 win over Tennessee.

Here’s how:

1H – 7:11 - DeAndre Liggins takes a pass from Doron Lamb out past the right wing. Liggins drives to the left side, then hits Harrellson with a wrap-around pass under the basket. Josh fumbles the pass, but manages to get it back despite being surrounded by three Vols. Harrellson is fouled as he banks in the shot. He misses the free throw, but Darius Miller gets the rebound. And Liggins hits a floater to make it a four-point possession. UK leads 29-14.

1H – 5:48 - Hood misses a long three from right wing, but Harrellson has terrific position. He blocks out the much smaller Melvin Goins and follows in the miss to give UK a commanding 33-14 lead. Brian Williams tried to come over from the other side, but was late.

2H – 1843-Harrellson actually dribbles to right corner, hands off to Miller, sets a pick, then rolls to the basket. Miller hits him with a bounce pass, and Josh goes up he’s fouled by Tennessee player. Foul call was on Fields, who didn’t believe it. Harrellson makes the first free throw, misses the second. But Terrence Jones tracks down the rebound. Unfortunately, Jones also turns the ball over with a lazy pass. It was one of his eight turnovers on the night.

2H – 1559 - Give Darius Miller some credit here. He rips a long rebound away from a falling Brian Williams, then gets the ball to Brandon Knight. Brandon looked like he wanted to take another three, from the right win, but instead drives, spots an open Harrellson in the lane and hits Josh with a lob pass for an easy bucket. Kentucky leads 37-14.

2H – 1516 - Out top, Harrellson hands off to Knight, sets a pick, then rolls through the lane. Knight hits Josh just as he enters the paint. He stops to gain position under the basket, is fouled on the back by Williams, but muscles the ball up and in as he falls to the floor. Josh then goes into a chest-pounding frenzy, which brings a huge smile to the face of the clapping Knight. Josh makes the free throw for a 51-33 Kentucky lead.

2H – 10:17 - Jones misses an inside shot, gets his own rebound but misses again. Harrellson is in great position on the right block. Skylar McBee tries to block him out at first, but when Jones gets the rebound of his own miss, McBee gives ground back into the center of the lane. That leaves Harrellson untouched for the easy follow shot. Kentucky leads 54-42.

2H – 9:06 - Another pick play by Harrellson. He has the ball out high on the right wing, and hands off to Knight, then sets a screen on Goins. As Knight’s shot goes up, Harrellson roates to the basket. Tobias Harris is in front of him, but doesn’t see Harrellson coming. Josh easily goes around the Tennessee freshmen and follows in the missed shot. Kentucky leads 56-42.

2H – 2:35 - Kentucky beats Tennessee’s full-court press for the easy basket here. Miller in-bounds to Liggins in the right corner. Liggins throws over the trap to an open Miller, who is at mid-court on the left side. Darius dribbles to the free-throw line as only Tobias Harris is back for the Vols. Harris comes to meet Miller, leaving Harrellson wide open under the hoop. Miller throws a perfect little lob that Harrellson jams home for a 67-52 Kentucky lead. By the way, Miller did a great job of finding an open spot after in-bounding the basketball.