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Tennessee at Kentucky: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Matt Melton

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 31: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates during the 92-48 win against the High Point Panthers at Rupp Arena on December 31, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 31: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates during the 92-48 win against the High Point Panthers at Rupp Arena on December 31, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Two of the top teams in the SEC meet as Kentucky hosts Tennessee in a Top 25 matchup.

When: Saturday, January 15 at 1:00 pm ET on ESPN

Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY

With both teams coming off blowout wins during the week, Kentucky hosts Tennessee in a high-profile matchup of Top 25 ranked SEC teams.

After dropping their SEC opener at LSU in a close contest, Kentucky has won their last two conference games in blowout fashion over Georgia and at Vanderbilt with a 78-66 win against the Commodores on Tuesday night. While the Wildcats did finish the game by not scoring in the final six minutes, Kentucky held a 28-point lead late in the second half, and still finished the game by shooting 52.5% from the field while out-rebounding the Commodores 42-26.

The Wildcats enter ranked as the No. 18 team in the country at 13-3 (3-1 in SEC), and are also the No. 8 ranked team nationally in offensive efficiency (KenPom) averaging 82.6 PPG, as well as being a strong team defensively only allowing 62.1 PPG to opponents. The favorite for 2021-22 SEC Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe (17 PPG, 15.1 RPG) leads the Wildcats in multiple statistical categories, while Kentucky has also gotten strong play from freshman guard TyTy Washington Jr in the absence of Sahvir Wheeler.

Tennessee on the other hand bounced-back nicely on Tuesday night after an 1-2 start to SEC play as the Volunteers defeated South Carolina 66-46 in Knoxville. Having four scorers in double-figures, the Volunteers did however struggle at times offensively shooting a combined 43.6% from the field, as well as going 11-for-25 from the free throw line.

Ranked as the No. 22 team in the country, the Volunteers sit at 11-4 on the year (2-2 in SEC), and are the No. 2 defensive efficiency team in the country (KenPom) allowing only 60.7 PPG to opponents. Averaging 75.3 PPG offensively, the Volunteers are led by the backcourt duo of Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler, as well as the frontcourt duo of Olivier Nkamhoua and John Fulkerson.

Next. Latest SEC power rankings. dark

In a matchup of what is one of the top offensive teams in the country facing off against one of the top defensive teams in the country, this could be a lower-scoring contest Saturday afternoon in Lexington. While the Volunteers you could argue match up well with the Wildcats, Kentucky should pick up a win here on their homecourt.

Prediction: Kentucky 76, Tennessee 68

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