Tennessee basketball is back in action on Tuesday night as they head to Lexington looking to avenge last month’s home loss against Kentucky.
The Vols have won three straight since the last meeting. The Wildcats have dropped two of their last three games. Here’s everything to know ahead of the rivalry matchup.
More From RTI: What Tennessee Basketball Said Ahead Of Rematch With Kentucky
How To Watch — No. 5 Tennessee (20-4, 7-4 SEC) at No. 15 Kentucky (16-7, 5-5 SEC)
- Start Time: 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
- Location: Rupp Arena
- Watch: ESPN. PxP: Dan Shulman, CC: Jay Bilas, Sideline: Molly McGrath
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
- Tennessee -3 Kentucky
- Over/under 147.5
- Tennessee -2 Kentucky
- Over/under: 146
What Tennessee AHC Justin Gainey Said About The Wildcats
On how surprised he was with how Tennessee defended Kentucky early in the loss in Knoxville two weeks ago
“The first four minutes of that game, I thought they did a really good job of getting their shooters looks. And I didn’t think we did a great job of defending them. (Koby) Brea got that three early and then number two (Jaxson Robinson) got the three on the left side, and then 15 (Ansley Almonor) got a look. And those are three of their best shooters. So they were locked in. But I think we helped in that. We weren’t where we were supposed to be. We weren’t as locked in as we needed to be.”
On how Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler — who didn’t play in the game in Knoxville due to injury — makes UK different
“Yeah, Lamont’s really good. He’s kind of the head of the snake, you know, he’s the head of the snake for them. He sets the tempo, he says the pace. He can score, he can facilitate. He’s dynamic in transition and he’s also a really good defender. I think he changes them drastically.”
On if Tennessee’s perimeter defense is what needs to change most from the first matchup
“Yeah. You look at last game, and the way they shot the ball from three, it would speak to we need to be better there, you know? But I would also say. Not only guards, but the bigs on the perimeter as well, because they’re not a huge post-up team. You know, dump it in and back to the basket and go to work type of team, but they get you on the rolls, they get you in transition. And so, you may be crossmatched sometimes, right? And so it’s gonna be bigs on guards, and guards on bigs, or if you get caught in a switch. It’s gonna take everybody just being locked in, being engaged. Communication is gonna have to be at an all-time high.”
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Kentucky (via UK Game Notes):
*Jaxson Robinson is OUT for Tuesday night’s game
Team Statistics (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Kentucky:
Individual Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Chaz Lanier — 17.7 PPG, 41.8 FG%, 41.6 3PT%
Rebounds: Igor Milicic — 8 RPG, 5.8 DRPG, 2.2 ORPG
Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 7.5 APG, 3.0 TOPG, 34.4 MPG
Kentucky:
Points: Otega Oweh — 16 PPG, 49.6 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
Rebounds: Amari Williams — 9 RPG, 6.8 DRPG, 2.2 ORPG
Assists: Lamont Butler — 4.7 APG, 2.1 TOPG, 26.5 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 70-52 win at Oklahoma
- 85-81 win versus Missouri
- 64-44 win versus Florida
- 78-73 loss versus Kentucky
- 53-51 loss at Auburn
Kentucky:
- 80-57 win versus South Carolina
- 98-84 loss at Ole Miss
- 89-79 loss versus Arkansas
- 78-73 win at Tennessee
- 74-69 loss at Vanderbilt
Prediction
I haven’t been this conflicted on a pick all season. The Illinois game, which I picked Tennessee to win narrowly, is really the only other one that comes close.
On one hand, Tennessee had a multitude of chances to win the first game and came up just short despite its worst shooting performance of the season. Since then, Tennessee has been playing its bast basketball of at least SEC play. Conversely, Kentucky has been unable to stop a nose bleed and dropped two of its last three games.
Now, Lamont Butler is back for Kentucky and he’s the Wildcats best perimeter defender. And this game is in Rupp Arena which certainly changes the dynamic. Still, my gut says Tennessee gets it done.
Tennessee 76, Kentucky 72
