Kentucky Basketball: 3 keys to SEC tilt with Tennessee Volunteers

The last big game of a big Saturday in college basketball will pit the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats against the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers in Lexington. While both teams are ranked in the top ten of the AP poll, they're both reeling entering the Saturday night showdown.

Tennessee is coming off a four point loss at home to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Kentucky just lost by three at home in an overtime defeat to the Florida Gators, the team's second loss in its last three games. The other one was a 17-point road drubbing at none other than South Carolina.

One of these SEC juggernauts will end the weekend on a two-game losing streak. It would be the Wildcats' first losing streak of the season (the Vols actually lost three straight earlier this season to a murderers' row of Purdue, Kansas, and North Carolina).

What are three keys to a Kentucky Wildcats victory over the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night?

From a Kentucky perspective, this game is the perfect opportunity to show just how much of a burden the Wildcats can be to opponents when March rolls around. The talented, young squad has flipped the script on those calling for John Calipari's job earlier this year, emerging as a legitimate Final Four and championship contender.

This game could also set the stage for next month, as Kentucky closes the regular season with a trip to Knoxville. It would be good to have a victory in hand when it's time to make that trip.

Here are three keys to a Kentucky victory.