Tennessee (16-3, 7-1) heads to Rupp Arena Tuesday night to put it’s #11 ranking on the line against the unranked Kentucky Wildcats (15-7, 5-3). The game is sold out and over 23,000 are expected to be on hand for the tip-off.
This Series has not been kind to the Vols who have lost eight in a row to the Cats. The last time Tennessee won at Rupp Arena was 1999. No current Tennessee player has ever beaten Kentucky. Last season, Kentucky beat Tennessee twice in the regular season and again in the SEC tournament to end the Vols season. The Wildcats hold the overall series lead 137-62 and 80-15 in Lexington. This will be the 200th meeting between these two schools.
Kentucky only starts one senior, guard Patrick Sparks, along with one junior and three sophomores. Sparks may be someone that the Vols need to keep an eye on. He averaged over 16 points per game in three games against Tennessee last year. The Wildcats have three players that average in double figures in scoring, led by point guard Rajon Rondo with 13.5.
Many think that Chris Lofton will be a key to Tennessee ‘s chances. Lofton is hitting over 40% from three point range at Rupp Arena. He had 19 points in his last trip to Lexington. Kentucky fans have to wonder how they let this kid get away considering his home in Maysville is only about an hour away from Lexington. Chris was Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 2004.
On paper this looks like a game that Tennessee could win. The Vols are coming off of a big home win over Mississippi and have won five straight SEC games. Kentucky, however, is coming off of a 15 point drubbing by Florida. The Gators shot over 60% in the second half of that game to pull away.
Kentucky will need to shoot the ball well if they hope to make up any ground on Tennessee’s two game lead in the SEC. The Cats are very capable. Kentucky has won five of their last six games and has been playing very well offensively as of late. They have beaten two top twenty teams in West Virginia and Louisville but they have also lost at home to Vanderbilt, Alabama, and North Carolina this season.
Tip-off is 7:00pm and the game will be televised by ESPN.