[Quality88]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
Here's what I was thinking before the University of Kentucky played No. 1-ranked Tennessee yesterday at Thompson-Boling Arena:
It had to be a good day to be Chris Lofton.
Tennessee stuck it to UK in a pregame ceremony honoring Lofton, a star senior from Maysville, Ky. What? Isn't Senior Day next Saturday? Didn't matter. The school ran a long highlight video from Lofton's career. And get this -- every highlight was against UK.
Lofton appeared on the end of the video, saying to fans, "Thank you, Tennessee, for believing in me."
The stage seemed set for the spurned hometown sharpshooter to get one last chance to rub it in against the school that snubbed him. His team was ranked No. 1 in the nation. UK was not only struggling but was without its best player.
This is the part in the prize fight where the challenger's knees buckle and the champion moves in to polish him off.
Except that's not what happened.
Yes, Lofton had a decent game, scoring 14 points. Yes, the Volunteers won 63-60. But the Wildcats showed something not many people had expected to see. They showed the kind of fire that makes guys like Lofton want to be Wildcats in the first place.

Eric Crawford: UK outplays Tennessee after Lofton tribute

I'm not usually a fan of Crawfords writing, but he makes a good point.