Tennessee basketball is back in action Saturday afternoon, facing off against Kentucky in the first of two regular season rivalry meetings this season. Both the Vols and Wildcats earned come from behind wins this midweek and are looking for a critical SEC win.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
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How to Watch — No. 24 Tennessee (12-5, 2-2 SEC) vs. Kentucky (11-6, 2-2 SEC)
- Start Time: noon ET/11 q.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Watch: ESPN. PxP: Dan Shulman, CC: Jay Bilas
- Online Streaming: WatchESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Mike Keith, CC: Chris Lofton
Betting Odds
- TBD
- Tennessee -5 Kentucky
- Over/under 145
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Kentucky (via UK Game Notes):
What AC Gregg Polinsky Said About The Wildcats
On what Kentucky looks like in Mark Pope’s second season
“They’re different. Last year, I think it was an extraordinary thing what he did with an entirely, wasn’t an entirely new group? To get to the Sweet 16 with a new team. I think we’re seeing that and I’ll get back to it, but I’m thinking about our league right now and it seems like teams are— I watched Texas and Vandy’s obviously terrific, playing great. But teams that were 0-2 (Texas) they win in Alabama, they beat Vandy. And Ole Miss, who seemed like they were struggling finds a way to beat Missouri, then go on the road and win at the buzzer (against Georgia).
“So I think what’s happening is with all of the new talent coming in, as a European coach reminded me the other day. So now you know what we go through every year, a whole new team with different personality types and I think for Coach Pope and their staff, what you think when you are doing your evaluation and systematically looking at your roster construction versus the reality of it when it arrives can be very different. Bill Self, who is one of the great coaches of all time, that’s I’m sure Bill expected more out of his team last year. But you just don’t know what certain guys are going to do. Pairing them with new guys and I think we’re dealing with some of that, but I think they (are) better defensively, more physical as a group. They’re not as explosive offensively, but as soon as I say that, you know, they might ring us up for 90. So I think that Mark has actually done a really good job with the way things have turned out with his team. But we all know where you are, there’s levels of expectations and that is something (that is) sometimes very challenging to deal with.”
Where They Land In The Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: No. 24
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 19
- Bart Torvik: No. 17
- EvanMiya: No. 20
Kentucky:
- AP Poll: NR
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 27
- Bart Torvik: No. 41
- EvanMiya: No. 28
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Kentucky:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 18.2 PPG, 42.3 FG%, 34.8 3PT%
Rebounds: Jaylen Carey — 6.4 RPG, 3.5 DRPG, 2.9 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.5 APG, 2.5 TOPG, 33.2 MPG
Kentucky:
Points: Otega Oweh: 15.8 PPG, 47.9 FG%, 38.2 3PT%
Rebounds: Malachi Moreno: 6.4 RPG, 3.9 DRPG, 2.5 ORPG
Assists: Denzel Aberdeen: 3.2 APG, 1.4 TOPG, 27 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 87-82 win versus Texas A&M (2OT)
- 91-67 loss at Florida
- 85-71 win versus Texas
- 86-75 loss at Arkansas
- 105-54 win versus South Carolina State
Kentucky:
- 75-74 win at LSU
- 92-68 win versus Mississippi State
- 73-68 loss versus Missouri
- 89-74 loss at Alabama
- 99-85 win versus Bellarmine
Prediction
This is a meeting between two teams trying to figure things out and pick up wins wherever they can. Both have the builds of good defensive teams but have struggled on the offensive end at times this season.
Not that it matters much in this meeting but Kentucky has won five of the last six in Knoxville after Tennessee won its first four home games against the Wildcats under Rick Barnes. But this one has the making of a competitive, dogfight. I’m taking Tennessee in a low scoring game.
Tennessee 73, Kentucky 70
