Kentucky @ No. 19 Tennessee
Feb. 20, 2021 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Thompon-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN
The Kentucky Wildcats (7-13, 6-7 SEC) head south to Knoxville for an SEC showdown with No. 19 Tennessee (15-5, 8-5) on Saturday afternoon.
This will be the second matchup between the Vols and Cats this season, as the two previously squared off in Lexington at the beginning of February. Tennessee defeated Kentucky by a score of 82-71 after an incredible second-half comeback led by Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson.
How to Watch
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- Start Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- TV: CBS
- Online Streaming: CBSSports.com or The CBS Sports App
- Radio (Knoxville): Vol Network
- Postgame Show: The Voluntary Reaction on the Fanrun Radio App
Odds and Statistics
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Tennessee is currently a 7.5-point favorite in this matchup.
The over/under is also set at 137.5.
For this game and more bets to choose from, visit Sportsbook.FanDuel.com. Use promo code “BLITZ” when registering.
The Vols have an 83.8 percent chance to win this game according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.
Previous Matchups
The Vols are 48-100 all-time against Kentucky, with the Vols having won four out of the last five matchups against the Wildcats.
- No. 11 Tennessee 82 @ Kentucky 71 – 2/6/2021
- Tennessee 81 @ No. 6 Kentucky 73 – 3/3/2020
- No. 15 Kentucky 77 @ Tennessee 64 – 2/8/20
- No. 4 Kentucky 78 @ No. 8 Tennessee 82 – 3/16/2019
- No. 4 Kentucky 52 @ No. 7 Tennessee 71 – 3/2/2019
Season Leaders
- Tennessee
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- Points: Jaden Springer – 12.4 PPG, 51.4 FG%, 77.6 FT%
- Assists: Santiago Vescovi – 3.3 APG, 2.1 TOPG, 29.0 MPG
- Rebounds: Josiah-Jordan James – 6.0 RPG, 4.1 DRPG, 1.9 ORPG
- Kentucky
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- Points: BJ Boston Jr. – 17.9 PPG, 42.7 FG%, 66.7 FT%
- Assists: Devin Askew – 3.2 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 30.3 MPG
- Rebounds: Isaiah Jackson – 6.9 RPG, 4.7 DRPG, 2.2 ORPG
Prediction:
The Vols certainly gained momentum with a big win in their last SEC game as they took down South Carolina and were just a few shots away from hitting triple-digits in the process. Meanwhile, John Fulkerson and Victor Bailey Jr. each reemerged as scoring threats once again, with both players hitting their season-highs in the game.
Tennessee beat Kentucky on the road earlier in the year, but it was not an easy win by any stretch. The Vols and Cats traded punches back and forth for the beginning of the game, but Kentucky maintained a lead for a large stretch. It wasn’t until an offensive gameplan change, which included more aggression in driving to the basket, that Tennessee would start hitting their shots and eventually take the lead.
I don’t think this is going to be an easy game for Tennessee. I still think about some of the frustrations that Tennessee experienced for the majority of the first Kentucky game. But ultimately, Tennessee has so much more to play for right now. Tennessee is trying to figure out their last few inconsistencies before March, and these last few regular-season games are key. Rick Barnes knows how to coach against the Kentucky Wildcats and John Calipari. He’s beat them four out of his last five tries.
Today won’t be any different.
Tennessee 83, Kentucky 74
Staff Predictions:
- Brandon Orrick 76-69 UT
- Chance Collins 68-63 UT
- Charley Collier 87-73 UT
- Tanner Carson 67-61 UT
- AJ Cook 64-60 UK
- Drew Nicholson 76-50 UT
- Billy “Stats” Williford 72-66 UT
- Dylan Saylor 73-64 UT
- Andrew Buckner- 75-69 UT
- Treigh Patterson 83-68 UT
