Kentucky coach John Calipari shows frustration during the first half of his team's game against Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo: Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports) Kentucky's post-Nerlens Noel era got off to a horrendous start in a game at Knoxville on Saturday. UK took on Tennessee, a middle-of-the-pack SEC team, and looked sluggish from the get-go in the team's first game without its injured star player who tore the ACL in his left knee during a game against Florida earlier this week. Noel is out for the rest of the season. MORE: What happens for Noel, UK now? OUTLOOK: Kentucky's NCAA hopes in jeopardy DEBATE: Noel injury questions NBA age limit The Volunteers routed the Noel-less Wildcats 88-58 to give Tennessee its most lopsided win in the 216-game history of the rivalry series. More depressingly, Kentucky's 30-point loss marked the fourth-worst loss in school history since 1950. The Wildcats looked like a completely different team without Noel, who had the ability to change the precense of a game on both sides of the floor, most notably on defense where his shot-blocking ability deterred slashers in the lane. Kyle Wiltjer scored 18 points, Julius Mays had 12 points and Jarrod Polson had a career-high 11 for Kentucky. Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress and Ryan Harrow all fouled out. Jordan McRae scored 15 points and Kenny Hall had 12 points as Tennessee (14-10, 6-6) shot 58 percent and won its third straight game. PHOTOS: NERLENS NOEL'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Story Highlights
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2013/02/16/tennessee-trounces-kentucky-by-30-in-first-game-without-nerlens-noel/1925015/