There is a growing theory on social media and call-in shows that Tennessee used an old hockey trick to get PJ Washington in foul trouble yesterday.
The theory is that Rick Barnes put in a little used reserve to “beat” on Washington and frustrate him a little. In hockey, that’s called putting in your goon.
Whether it was planned or not, Derrick Walker played 4 minutes and committed 2 fouls. One of those was a double flagrant with Washington that limited the UK big man to only 6 minutes of action in the first half.
Double-flagrant 1’s on Washington and Walker — PJ now on the bench with 2 early fouls @WHAS11
— Whitney Harding (@WHAS11Whitney) March 16, 2019
Double Flagrant One fouls on #Vols’ Derrick Walker and Kentucky’s PJ Washington.
Come on, guys. Let ‘em play a bit. This is silly.
Anyway, that’s two on Washington.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) March 16, 2019
Doug Shows goes to the monitor and decides double Flagrant 1 fouls on Washington and Walker. That seems wrong to me. But huge. PJ has two fouls with 14-plus minutes to go in the half and is likely done until intermission. HUGE. https://t.co/KabxHRBUk9
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) March 16, 2019
We will likely never know if Walker was serving as a goon, but if so, it worked. If not, a random role player who rarely plays contributed a key part of Tennessee’s win.
