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NASHVILLE – Darnell Dodson may have given Kentucky coach John Calipari another option off the bench as the Wildcats delve deeper into the postseason. Another tool comes in handy at tournament time.

Dodson, a reserve, scored eight points – all in a span of three minutes – that helped propel the second-ranked Wildcats to a 74-45 win over Tennessee in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Unlike the tourney opener, Kentucky appeared more comfortable in a building that had more shades of blue in Tennessee’s home state.

“Everybody was more relaxed getting the first game out of the way,” he said.

Although known as a long-range specialist off the bench, Dodson wanted to make his presence known on both ends of the floor when called upon by Calipari and the team’s coaching staff.

“I just wanted to bring some energy off the bench and give us another option out there on both sides defensively and offensively,” Dodson said afterward.

That’s what he did. When the opportunity arose, Dodson pulled the trigger and scored his lone three baskets in a flurry that buried the Volunteers.

Dodson’s contributions came after Tennessee narrowed an 11-point deficit to 50-41 with eight minutes remaining. In a span of three minutes Dodson connected on back-to-back shots from long range and threw down a dunk that have Kentucky a 58-41 advantage with six minutes remaining. From that point on, it was all Kentucky.

Dodson said Kentucky wanted to make sure Tennessee didn’t respond to the decisive spurt.

“Everybody just wanted to basically put the game away at that point and time,” he said. “Everybody picked it up a notch.”

Dodson hit a trey and scored three points in Kentucky’s 73-67 win over Alabama in the quarterfinals, but his two 3-pointers and thundering slam on an assist from Darius Miller provided Kentucky with a much-needed boost in semifinals of the tourney.

“It was like a bounce-back game for me,” he said. “My teammates kept looking for me. They had confidence in me and I just had the confidence to make shots.”

Tennessee defeated Kentucky in the last meeting between the two border rivals in Knoxville, adding more fuel to a rivalry that has intensified over the past couple of years. Dodson wasn’t surprised by the intensity level throughout the contest.

“They were going at us and we were going at them,” he said. “We just had to sustain it. We just tried to block them out and play the game.”

Dodson said playing in the finale will give the team a boost heading into the NCAA Tournament.

“It will be like a new stepping stone for us,” he said. “It’s another accomplishment for this year and will do a lot of good for our confidence heading into the tournament.”

Kentucky guard DeAndre Liggins has been giving Kentucky a lift off the bench, but was glad to see Dodson carry the load, especially in the second half. Dodson’s eight points were part of Kentucky’s 15 points off the bench.

“He made a couple of shots, got going and opened up the game for us,” he said.

“He got a little confidence and I am sure he’s going to carry that over into the next game,” Liggins said.

Any contributions off the bench are always a plus this time of the year.

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