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Two SEC heavyweights meet in primetime on Saturday night in a top 10 matchup between Tennessee and Kentucky. Kentucky leads the all time series 98-44, but Tennessee has won 3 of the last 5 matchups head to head.
Tennesse won their last game 85-73 at home against South Carolina on Wednesday. Last Tuesday (2/5) they beat Mizzou 72-60 at home, and on Saturday (2/9) they beat Florida 73-61 at home.
Kentucky is coming off a 73-71 loss at home against #19 LSU on Tuesday. Last Tuesday (2/5) they beat South Carolina 76-48 at home, and on Saturday (2/9) they beat Mississippi State 71-67 on the road.
On the season, Tennessee is 13-9-1 ATS and 5-1 ATS on the road. On the season, Kentucky is 14-10 ATS and 7-7 ATS at home.
#1 Tennessee Volunteers
(23-1 overall, 7-1 on the road, 11-0 in conference)
Tennessee averages 85.4 PPG, 38.1 RPG, 20.0 APG, 5.9 SPG, 5.9 BPG, and 11.3 TPG. As a team they shoot 51.5% from the field, 76.7% from the free throw line, and 36.8% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 67.3 PPG, 39.0% shooting from the field, and 32.1% shooting from 3 point range.
They are led by forward Grant Williams who averages 19.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG and 1.6 BPG while shooting 57.9% from the field, 83.2% from the free throw line, and 30.0% from 3 point range. Admiral Schofield is a fantastic #2, averaging 16.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG and 0.5 BPG while shooting 48.8/76.0/40.5. Jordan Bone handles the ball handling duties and averages 13.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.5 APG, 0.7 BPG and 45.9% shooting from the field. Lamonte Turner (11.7 PPG/2.3 RPG/3.5 APG/1.1 SPG), Jordan Bowden (11.5 PPG/3.3 RPG/2.5 APG/0.8 SPG/39.5% from 3), Kyle Alexander (8.5 PPG/6.9 RPG/1.9 BPG/64.3% from the field) and John Fulkerson (3.7 PPG/2.7 RPG/0.6 SPG/0.7 BPG) are big contributors as well
Key Injuries
None
#5 Kentucky Wildcats
(20-4 overall, 13-1 at home, 9-2 in conference)
Kentucky averages 78.4 PPG, 39.0 RPG, 14.2 APG, 6.6 SPG, 4.9 BPG, and 12.9 TPG. As a team they shoot 47.5% from the field, 74.6% from the free throw line, and 35.3% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 65.2 PPG, 40.6% shooting from the field, and 35.7% shooting from 3 point range.
They are led by sophomore forward P.J. Washington, who averages 14.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 SPG and 1.1 BPG while shooting 51.5% from the field, 69.6% from the free throw line and 43.1% from 3 point range. Freshman Keldon Johnson contributes 14.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG and 0.8 SPG while shooting 48.3/74.3/40.7. Fellow freshman Tyler Herro puts up 13.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG and 35.4% shooting from 3. Reid Travis (11.6 PPG/7.0 RPG/0.8 BPG/51.9% from the field), Ashton Hagans (7.1 PPG/2.4 RPG/4.4 APG/2.1 SPG), Immanuel Quickley (5.9 PPG/1.8 RPG/1.8 APG) and E.J. Montgomery (4.2 PPG/4.0 RPG/1.0 BPG) play big minutes as well.
Key Injuries
None
Predictions
Kentucky Good. Tennessee Better. Tennessee Cover. Take the Volunteers over the Wildcats. Go Basketballs!
