Two teams who have already faced off once this season in Knoxville, Kentucky and Tennessee are set to play once again Saturday in Lexington for what is an important SEC basketball matchup for both teams. As for that previous matchup, Kentucky upset then No. 5 ranked Tennessee back on January 14 in Knoxville, 63-56.
The Wildcats come into Saturday owning a 17-9 overall record this season, as well as an 8-5 mark in SEC basketball play. Kentucky has also lost two of their last three games, with their most recent contest however being a 71-68 road win at Mississippi State on Wednesday night.
Kentucky comes into this matchup averaging 74.7 PPG, while also allowing 68 PPG, and are led by one of the SEC’s top frontcourt players in Oscar Tshiebwe, who averages a double-double at 15.8 PPG and 13.3 RPG. The Wildcats also have three others averaging in double-figures with Antonio Reeves, Jacob Toppin, and Cason Wallace, with Kentucky overall also one of college basketball’s top teams when it comes to offensive rebounds, averaging 13.5 per game.
Tennessee comes to Lexington ranked as the No. 10 team nationally according to the latest AP Poll, holding a 20-6 overall record, as well as a 9-4 mark in SEC basketball play. The Volunteers have also lost two of their last three games, but are coming off one of their best wins of the season so far Wednesday night, upsetting No. 1 Alabama at home, 68-59.
The Volunteers are led by the nation’s No. 3 scoring defense allowing only 56.4 PPG, and are also one of college basketball’s top offensive rebounding teams averaging 13.6 per game. Tennessee is also averaging 72.3 PPG offensively, and have three players averaging in double-figures with Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler, and Olivier Nkamhoua.
Kentucky vs Tennessee SEC Basketball Prediction
For a Kentucky team that needs a few resume building wins for the NCAA Tournament, you could certainly make the argument that this home matchup against a Top 10 Tennessee team is a must-win for the Wildcats. I’ll say that the Wildcats get that win as well on their homecourt, with this matchup being a bit higher-scoring than the previous game in Knoxville. Prediction: Kentucky 74, Tennessee 68
What Channel is the Kentucky vs Tennessee Game On?
Kentucky will host Tennessee inside Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY on Saturday, February 18, with tipoff set for 1:00 PM ET on CBS.
Kentucky vs Tennessee Live Stream
A live stream of Saturday’s matchup between Kentucky and Tennessee can be found on fuboTV here.