Photo: Chet White | UK Athletics

After consecutive losses to Alabama and Vanderbilt, Kentucky is eager to get back on track as they face another tough SEC opponent on Tuesday night.

At 7:00 PM, the Wildcats will head to Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, to take on the 8th ranked Volunteers. While Kentucky leads the all-time series with a commanding 161-78 advantage, recent matchups between these two teams have been hard-fought battles. Last season, the teams split their two meetings: Kentucky lost 92-103 at home but bounced back with an 85-81 win in Knoxville in the season finale.

This year, both teams have seen significant changes. Kentucky, of course, has undergone a complete overhaul, with nearly all of the players from the Calipari era now gone. On the other hand, Tennessee has used the transfer portal effectively, while also retaining key players from last season. One major loss for the Vols, however, is Dalton Knecht, who scored nearly half of Tennessee’s points in their loss to Kentucky last year, dropping 40. Despite that, head coach Rick Barnes has done a solid job replacing Knecht’s scoring with transfer Chaz Lanier, who is averaging 18.0 points per game. Lanier, alongside returning guard Zakai Zeigler, gives Tennessee a potent backcourt that can create problems for Kentucky.

Tennessee’s style of play is another challenge for the Wildcats. The Vols are known for slowing the game down and playing a physical brand of basketball—something that has already caused Kentucky trouble this season.

How Kentucky Can Win

For Kentucky, getting healthy is key, but with a quick turnaround, that’s not likely to happen overnight. Head coach Mark Pope’s recent comments suggest that forward Andrew Carr could be out for an extended period, which means other players will need to step up in his absence.

One player who will need to carry a bigger load is Koby Brea. In the last two losses, Brea has shot just 5-12 from the field. Kentucky will need more scoring from their best shooter to turn up the pace against Tennessee. Another issue that popped up in the loss to Vanderbilt was turnovers. Kentucky committed 17 turnovers—far too many. The Wildcats have generally done a good job taking care of the ball this season, so it’s crucial they clean that up to avoid giving Tennessee extra opportunities to score and maintain possession of the basketball. 

Game Info:

Date: 1/28/25
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Food City Center, Knoxville, Tennessee
Watch on: ESPN
Current Line: Tennessee is favored with ESPN’s matchup predictor giving the Vols a 77.6% chance to win.