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Kentucky vs. Tennessee: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Tristan Freeman

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 13: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Texas A
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 13: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Texas A /
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Earlier in the season, Tennessee defeated Kentucky in Knoxville. Will the Wildcats return the favor in Lexington?

TV schedule: Tuesday, February 6, 7:00 p.m. ET. ESPN

Arena: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky

The latest Bracketology for Busting Brackets has been released, and the SEC basketball league received eight bids, second only to the ACC. Tennessee 17-5 (7-3) got the second highest seed at No. 3, with the Auburn Tigers getting the highest with a two seed.

After losing their first two games of conference play, the Volunteers have won eight of their last nine, with the most recent coming in a 94-61 thrashing over Mississippi. Five players scored in double figures, led by Admiral Schofield with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Grant Williams and Lamonte Turner led the team in scoring 17 points each.

One of those recent wins came at home against Kentucky, 76-65. Williams and Schofield had big games, combining for 38 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. Despite being down at the half, the Volunteers outscored the Wildcats by 19 points in the final 20 minutes to prevail at the end.

For John Calipari’s team, the top two scorers at the time were Hamidou Diallo and Kevin Knox. In that game, they combined for just 11 points on 3/14 shooting. But things have changed for Kentucky 17-6 (6-4), with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming the team’s most impactful player on the team.

The new starting point guard led the Wildcats in their last game, scoring 15 points and dishing out six assists in the 69-60 loss to Missouri. He was the only player with more than three made field goals, with the Wildcats shooting just 31% on the game.

The loss ended a three game winning streak, which came after a three game losing streak. Kentucky’s position continues to fluctuate, currently with a four seed in the latest Bracketology.

Next: SEC Mid-season recap and awards

This is the first of an eight game brutal stretch, with seven or the eight projected to be in the NCAA tournament. While the Wildcats are a lock for the big dance, another skid will cause them to fall on the seed lines. A win on Tuesday will be a long way to prevent that.

Prediction: Tennessee 75- Kentucky 77

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