For the first time in a long time, Rupp Arena sounded like Rupp Arena. The Big Blue Nation brought energy and intensity before tip-off until the final horn sounded. John Calipari’s team fed off that energy, creating a raucous atmosphere that completely suffocated Tennessee in a dominant 107-79 victory.
TyTy Washington could sense something was different during warm-ups. The crowd arrived earlier than usual. When they emerged from the tunnel for the final time prior to tip-off, Rupp was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.
“The crowd, they came in with a lot of intensity and I felt like we matched their intensity,” said the true freshman from Arizona.