Notebook: Kentucky fans outnumber Vols in Nashville

<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Despite being in its home state, Tennessee players and coaches are aware the crowd will be against them in today's semifinal matchup with Kentucky.</p><p>“We're going to try to defend our home territory,” Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said. “And I understand that we've got some wonderful visitors from the north that are probably, they rival Tennessee as the greatest basketball fans in the country.”</p><p>The Vols advanced with a 76-65 win over Ole Miss and will be playing their third game in three days. Kentucky moved on with a 73-67 win over Alabama, rallying from an 11-point first-half deficit.</p><p>Kentucky fans not only packed Bridgestone Arena, they've packed downtown Nashville to cheer on the No. 2 Wildcats (30-2).</p><p>“We've got to be really focused because they are going to have the whole arena,” said Tennessee senior center Wayne Chism. “You saw that today when they played. They had the whole arena. So we've got to come out and be really patient.”</p><p>Tennessee handed Kentucky one of its two losses this season, beating the Wildcats 74-65 on Feb. 27.</p><p>“Teams probably get scared to play these guys, but obviously when you go out and play someone bigger and better on your schedule, you just come out and play basketball because that's one thing you know how to do,” Chism said. “You come out and play different than what you usually do, it's going to be a big mistake.”</p><p>Kentucky overcame a 1-of-13 shooting performance from 3-point range to move on to the semifinals.</p><p>“We know we're not a 3-point shooting team,” Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson said. “Defense, rebounding, transition offense, that's what we're best at.”</p><h3>Bubble burst</h3> <p>Ole Miss entered Friday's quarterfinal matchup with Tennessee seeking a win to help secure an NCAA Tournament berth.</p><p>But 13 missed free throws proved costly in a 76-65 loss to the Vols. The Rebels (21-10) dropped to 0-5 against the top four teams from the SEC East and will now go into Selection Sunday a long shot to make the field of 65.</p><p>“Obviously, it's not a good position to be in,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “I've got a locker room full of disappointed guys. So we'll have to wait and see.”</p><p>Ole Miss' best non-conference wins have come against Kansas State and UTEP.</p><p>“There's so much made about this team in, this team out,” Kennedy said. “To be honest, it's counterproductive to live in that world.”</p><h3>Grant eyes NIT</h3> <p>Former Florida assistant Anthony Grant wasn't about to concede that his first season as head coach at Alabama is over yet.</p><p>Grant is hopeful the Tide will play in the NIT after a strong finish to the season. Alabama won its previous three games and led Kentucky by as many as 11 points in the first half before falling 73-67 to the top-seeded Wildcats in the tournament quarterfinals.</p><p>“We're hopeful that we'll continue to have an opportunity to play,” Grant said. “We'll have to wait and see what happens throughout, but I think we made some strides in the right direction during the course of the year.”</p><p>Alabama (17-15) overcame some distractions during the season, including the suspension of star sophomore JaMychal Green for a game for violating team rules.</p><p>“I think there's a better understanding of what it takes to win and the commitment that you have to have to be able to do that,” Grant said.</p><h3>Etc.</h3> <p>Renowned Hollywood actress and avid UK fan Ashley Judd was in the stands for the Kentucky-Alabama game. Judd was outside the UK locker room after the game. “I'm waiting for (John) Wall,” she said. ...Chism said he is “100 percent” despite looking like he was favoring his hip at the end of the Ole Miss game. Chism first hurt the hip when he took a hard spill to the floor during UT's game Feb. 22 against Florida.</p>