Two wins over UK in one week a great feeling for Vanderbilt seniors

Kentucky's defense could not stop Vanderbilt from beating the Cats again Friday. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Just over a week ago Jordan Wright got the winning basket in Rupp Arena when Vanderbilt beat Kentucky.

Friday night in Nashville in the SEC Tournament, he had 18 points and six rebounds in another 80-73 victory over the Wildcats. It was another sweet win — just like his first win in Rupp — because the Cats knocked Vandy out of the 2022 SEC tourney.

“It feels good to beat them, honestly. One of the biggest brands in college basketball. Any time you get a chance to beat them, feels great. Especially that loss in the SEC Tournament. We had ’em,” Wright said.

“Felt like we should have won that game (last year). I feel like we outplayed them that last time in the SEC Tournament last year. So it feels good.”

Another Vanderbilt senior, Quentin Millora-Brown said it was a “great feeling” to beat the Cats again.

“Obviously, like, we wanted a little bit of revenge from last year coming into this year. We knew that they beat us,” he said.  “I think everyone just fought hard, and we all feel happy about it.  I think we’re all excited, but also we’re taking it with the right attitude.”

Millora-Brown and Wright had been at Vanderbilt for four years without a win over Kentucky. Now they have two in nine days.

“It’s huge for us. It’s just kind of validation for what we’ve been trying to build, where we’re trying to go,” Millora-Brown said. “I think it sets the tone for us going forward that we want to be a winning team, we’re going to be a winning team.”

“I think it’s turning of the tide for Vanderbilt. We hadn’t beaten them in how long. First three years, they had their way with us,” Wright said. “For us to beat them twice in a week, it shows the growth we’ve had, progressing as a team, how we’re taking these steps forward.”

Wright and Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse both were overwhelmed by Vanderbilt fans when they joined the SEC Network studio crew after the win.

“I couldn’t even think over there. They were just so loud. It felt amazing. It’s something that we haven’t had before. The fan support that we’ve gotten in the past month, pretty much all season honestly, it’s been great,” Wright said.

“It feels amazing to come out there and be surrounded and have those fans just screaming, howling, yelling your name, yelling coach Stackhouse’s name. The support feels great. Honestly, like I said, I couldn’t even think over there. It was just incredible.”