The Official Tennessee @ Kentucky Game Thread, 7:00pm ET (1/15/13), ESPN

[Yankee_Vol]

Tennessee Volunteers: 8-6 (0-2)




@


Kentucky Wildcats: 10-5 (1-1)




7:00 PM ET, January 15, 2013
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY

Coverage: ESPN/WatchESPN

Line: UT +12
O/U: 136

[The Ron Mexico]

Earliest game day thread ever.

[OrangeBalls]

You got the Chism jersey and started the game thread on the same day.

This is a good sign...

[omghulkhands]

I hate Kentucky. Win one for the hulkster would yah guys?

[Yankee_Vol]

Originally Posted by The Ron Mexico

Earliest game day thread ever.

Not even close. I've started ones at literally 24 hours out

[Yankee_Vol]

Originally Posted by OrangeBalls

You got the Chism jersey and started the game thread on the same day.

This is a good sign...

I sure hope so. I'm 7-3 on the season.

[OrangeBalls]

Originally Posted by Yankee_Vol

I sure hope so. I'm 7-3 on the season.

You're due.

[utfan72408]

Let's hope we can keep it within 20.

[OrangeBalls]

Originally Posted by utfan72408

Let's hope we can keep it within 20.

Line is 12. If we can limit our turnovers and their fastbreak points, we can keep it within single digits. If not, then it'll be in double digits.

[utfan72408]

Originally Posted by OrangeBalls

Line is 12. If we can limit our turnovers and their fastbreak points, we can keep it within single digits. If not, then it'll be in double digits.

How will we handle their athleticism? This is easily the most athletic team we will see. Handle the ball, make smart passes, hit a couple 3s and play good defense. Do those things and who knows?

[bleedingTNorange]

Originally Posted by utfan72408

How will we handle their athleticism? This is easily the most athletic team we will see. Handle the ball, make smart passes, hit a couple 3s and play good defense. Do those things and who knows?

Memphis is close to as athletic and we outplayed them the second half, so we'll see.

Trae obviously needs to bring it, but my main thing is the transition D. It's evident we need some transition buckets, it helps jordy get going and it gets us in as much of a flow as this offense is capable of. However, we've had a bad habit of when we run letting it effect our transition D and that's something you can't do against UK.

If you make UK play a half court game there offense is damn near as stagnant as ours. 90% of the time it's a Goodwin drive if it gets late into the shot clock, need Richardson to shut him down. Would like to see CCM throw zone at them for a couple minutes while wiltjer IS NOT out on the floor.

I'd have felt better had UK not just lost at home, but i really don't see this being a blowout either way. Think it's going to be a close game, single digits, and will probably be in the 60s. 70-62 or something like that.

[bigsteve13]

they suck but we suck way more unfortunately. Kentucky by double digits at home. Goofy flat top Noel embarrasses Stokes.

[utfan72408]

Originally Posted by bleedingTNorange

Memphis is close to as athletic and we outplayed them the second half, so we'll see.

Trae obviously needs to bring it, but my main thing is the transition D. It's evident we need some transition buckets, it helps jordy get going and it gets us in as much of a flow as this offense is capable of. However, we've had a bad habit of when we run letting it effect our transition D and that's something you can't do against UK.

If you make UK play a half court game there offense is damn near as stagnant as ours. 90% of the time it's a Goodwin drive if it gets late into the shot clock, need Richardson to shut him down. Would like to see CCM throw zone at them for a couple minutes while wiltjer IS NOT out on the floor.

I'd have felt better had UK not just lost at home, but i really don't see this being a blowout either way. Think it's going to be a close game, single digits, and will probably be in the 60s. 70-62 or something like that.

Great analysis BTO. Agree with all your points.

I, too, hate that UK is coming off a loss. They'll be angry and all signs point to a solid performance from the Cats. But we're coming off 3 losses so we'd sure as hell better be angry, too.

[mtt2d]

This may be one of the toughest games to win this season. I hope the Vols light it up at Rupp and cause the wildcats to go into a meltdown.

[OrangeBalls]

Originally Posted by utfan72408

How will we handle their athleticism? This is easily the most athletic team we will see. Handle the ball, make smart passes, hit a couple 3s and play good defense. Do those things and who knows?

As bTNo said, Memphis was athletic and we played better in the 2nd half. Transition D and keeping them out of the paint will be key. They aren't a great outside shooting team. Which probably means they'll shoot lights out for the first time all year. They'll be out to prove themselves more because they just lost so that doesn't help us. However, if we can avoid turnovers and not let them get steals and easy baskets then we can stay in this game.