Tennessee vs Kentucky: 2022 SEC Tournament semifinal preview, TV schedule

After avoiding the plight of other top-seeded teams, Tennessee and Kentucky prepare to meet up in the anticipated SEC semifinal match-up.

TV schedule: Saturday, March 12th, 3 pm ET, ESPN

Arena: Amalie Arena – Tampa, Fla

The two highest seeds remaining in the SEC tournament meet up after overcoming minor resistance in the quarter-finals. Both teams found success after enjoying a double-bye, which has afforded them the ability to enter the semifinals; rested and healthy as they play their final games prior to the NCAA National Tournament.

The No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers handled Mississippi State 72-59 behind 16 points by Josiah-James Jordan and double digits by four other players. The Volunteers who shot 41 percent from the field during SEC play connected on 50 percent of their shots against the Bulldogs and converted 13 turnovers into 13 points, all while turning the ball just six times despite averaging almost fourteen in conference play.

The No. 3 seeded Kentucky Wildcats were challenged by a spirited Vanderbilt squad who were playing their third game in as many games that resulted in a 77-71 Kentucky victory. The Wildcats were led by guard Ty Ty Washington who finished with 22 points in his best game since returning from injury.  The Wildcats now turn their focus to the Volunteers who they split two games with during the regular season.

Back on Jan.15, 2022, Kentucky easily defeated the Volunteers in Lexington 107-79. On their home court, the Wildcats forced 20 turnovers and converted that into 32 points, which was a huge factor in their 68 percent shooting and Washington scoring 28 game-high points. The Volunteers were able to return the favor on their court by capturing a 76-63 victory. The Wildcats connected on just 34 percent of their shots, while Tennessee connected 44 percent, yet went 8-17 from behind the arc.

With a number of top-seeded teams already falling to the waist side in their respective conference tournaments, an additional win versus a top-15 team and a possible SEC Tournament championship would go a long way in improving Kentucky’s two-line and Tennessee’s three-line in the eyes of the Selection Committee.

Without a major offensive threat in the post, the Volunteers will have to continue to use their ball movement and their ability to penetrate a kick-out to beyond the arc as the Volunteers led SEC play in assists while having the second-best three-point percentage in the conference.

The Wildcats will counter the Volunteers’ talented guards, with even more talented guards and Kellan Grady to continue their SEC best three-point percentage while those aforementioned guards and Oscar Tshiebwe continue the success they had leading the Wildcats to SEC’s best field goal percentage.

Prediction: Tennessee 78 – Kentucky 84