Kentucky Rallies Past Tennessee in Denim Day Comeback

Wildcats overcome slow start to defeat rival Volunteers on emotional night honoring 1996 championship team

Feb. 7, 2026 at 11:47pm

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The Kentucky Wildcats overcame a sluggish first half to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night in a game that featured the Wildcats wearing their iconic denim uniforms to honor the 1996 national championship team. Despite the nostalgia and pressure surrounding the event, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope urged his team to stay focused on the present and the story they were writing.

Why it matters

Kentucky's comeback victory over a ranked Tennessee team on an emotional night showcased the team's resilience and ability to overcome adversity, traits that have defined the Wildcats' season. The win also maintained Kentucky's position atop the SEC standings and kept them in contention for a high NCAA Tournament seed.

The details

After Tennessee raced out to a big first-half lead, Kentucky clamped down defensively in the second half, holding the Volunteers to just 2 assists and 0-for-15 shooting from 3-point range. The Wildcats' balanced scoring attack and timely stops allowed them to erase the deficit and secure the victory.

  • Kentucky honored its 1996 national championship team before the game on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • Kentucky overcame a double-digit first-half deficit to defeat Tennessee.

The players

Mark Pope

The head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, who played on the 1996 national championship team and urged his current players to stay focused on the present.

Malachi Moreno

A Kentucky center who celebrated from the bench as the Wildcats rallied to victory.

Jasper Johnson

A Kentucky guard who also celebrated the comeback win from the bench.

Braydon Hawthorne

A Kentucky forward who joined his teammates in celebrating the victory.

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What they’re saying

“I talked to our guys before we went out in the locker room, because it's Kentucky. There's so much noise surrounding everything these guys do and then honoring the denim and bringing back denim was such a big deal and such a big story. I said, guys, I know all this is going on, but this is not about 30 years ago. This is not about denim. This is not about anything except for the story that you guys are writing right now, because the story that these guys are writing right now is awesome. It's their story. If you're not on this ride with us, I feel bad for you.”

— Mark Pope, Head Coach, Kentucky Wildcats

What’s next

Kentucky will look to build on this comeback win as they continue their push for a high NCAA Tournament seed. Their next game is against a ranked SEC rival, which will be another test of their resilience.

The takeaway

Kentucky's ability to overcome adversity and rally from behind has become a defining characteristic of this team's season. Their resilience in the face of nostalgia and pressure on Denim Day showed the maturity and focus of a squad that believes it can write its own chapter in Kentucky basketball history.