Tennessee basketball heads to Kentucky to face the 10th-ranked Wildcats in a SEC rivalry showdown on Saturday night.
The Vols and Wildcats are both looking to bounce back from disappointing home losses earlier this week. Tennessee fell to South Carolina on Tuesday night before Kentucky fell to Florida on Wednesday night.
Here’s everything to know about the rivalry matchup.
More From RTI: Rick Barnes Praises Dalton Knecht On The Jim Rome Show
How to Watch – No. 5 Tennessee (15-5, 5-2 SEC) at No. 10 Kentucky (15-5, 5-3 SEC)
- Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Rupp Arena
- TV: ESPN. PxP: Tom Hart. CC: Jimmy Dykes
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
- Tennessee -1.5 Kentucky
- Over/under 159.5
- Tennessee -2 Kentucky
- Over/under 158
What Tennessee HC Rick Barnes Said About South Carolina
On Kentucky’s high-scoring offense this season being one of John Calipari’s best
“They’re very explosive and can give it to you from all different levels in all different ways. Great speed. A team that can really go on big runs against you. But I think (Calipari) would probably be happy that he’s getting a little bit more balance all the way around. But really, really, really explosive basketball team. And he obviously present problems. He’s always had a team that would run. We’ve always talked about transition being a big key playing against Kentucky because of how fast they can get down the floor and get in the open court and try to play in space. And so transition defense is really important, obviously, and knowing that they’ve got guys that can, if they get space, they don’t need space. They’ve got some guys that can play off the bounce, but also guys that can really go up and make some very difficult shots.”
On the balance between Tennessee wanting to play fast offensively, but also slowing Kentucky down defensively
“Well, again, I think it’ll be the last two games we played, we played against teams that we’re going to play a more slower, lower possession game. This game, I don’t think it’ll be a lower (possession) game because we’re going to do what we do. They’re going to do what they do. And with that in mind, I think it will be a high-level, high (possession) game.”
On what makes Kentucky so efficient from three-point range
“Well, one, they can shoot the ball. I’d say the same thing about our guys. You know, you want to recruit guys that can put the ball in the basket and hope that they work hard, too, (and) can get themselves set up against good defenses that are trying to take it away from them. But the fact is that, I think that they, again, I’ve always thought (Calipari’s) team was one that looked to attack early. And I think this team is probably like that and maybe quicker, but he’s got guys that can shoot and he’s telling them to shoot it.”
On the importance of avoiding a slow start at Kentucky
“We talk about all that with them, and I just want us to be a confident team. I want us to be a team that I know that we can be. And I want to, if you go back, whether you’re talking about Josiah or Santi or Jordan or Dalton, anybody. I want us to do what we practice and we think if we do what we practice and there will be no undefeated teams in college basketball. And I was watching the game last night against Wisconsin and Nebraska and Wisconsin had won 120 straight games when they had a 15-point lead. Last night all at once, I’ve known (Nebraska coach) Fred Hoiberg for a long time, his team started making some shots, and as a coach you just sit back and think (it’s) one of those nights because they made some really tough shots. And it happens to everybody that stays in it. And what you hope is that at the right time, you keep building and it’s all about getting better and hoping that we can be the best team we can be when it counts most.”
On slowing down Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves
“I don’t know if you can slow any good scorer down. You just gotta hope he’s going to take more good shots than he needs to get what he normally gets. Guys that can really score the ball, you’ve gotta make them work as hard as you can to earn points, knowing that if you’re averaging 20 points a night, that’s tough to guard, but you have to make them work for every one of them and hope that he’s gotta take more shots to get to that number.”
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes)
Kentucky (via UK Game Notes)
Team Statistics (via Sports Reference)
Tennessee:
Kentucky:
Stat Leaders
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 63-59 loss versus South Carolina
- 75-62 win at Vanderbilt
- 91-71 win versus Alabama
- 85-66 win versus Florida
- 85-79 win at Georgia
Kentucky:
- 94-91 loss versus Florida (OT)
- 63-57 win at Arkansas
- 79-62 win at South Carolina
- 105-96 win versus Georgia
- 90-77 win versus Mississippi State
Prediction
Two teams in desperate need of a win collide in Lexington on Saturday night to cap off a loaded ESPN college basketball triple header.
Both Tennessee and Kentucky are coming off disappointing home losses earlier this week. Outside of the COVID-19 impacted 2020-21 season, the Wildcats have never lost two straight home games under John Calipari. That will make Tennessee’s challenge even greater.
Two keys I’ll be looking out for in this one. Tennessee has started slow each of the last two seasons at Rupp Arena, falling behind by double digits earlier in the first half. The Vols have struggled with slow starts this season and Kentucky is the type of team that can make you pay if you don’t come out ready.
That’s because Kentucky plays at one of the fastest paces in the country and can score at an incredibly high clip. The transition scoring will be a fascinating storyline to watch in this game. Tennessee’s half court defense is far superior to Kentucky’s. Can they limit Kentucky’s transition opportunities? That’s a big storyline for this matchup.
Kentucky 83, Tennessee 78
