Kentucky Basketball: 3 keys to SEC tilt with Tennessee Volunteers

Find mismatches for Antonio Reeves

While Kentucky will have its hands full on defense containing Knecht, they can create their own set of issues on the opposite end of the floor with Antonio Reeves. He's one of the Wildcats' top offensive options.

The senior guard is averaging 19.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season. It's not actually the best scoring season of his collegiate career, but he's never been quite as efficient as he's been this season.

Reeves is knocking down 50 percent of his shots, including 43.8 percent of his three-pointers. He's very close to the elusive 50/40/90 shooting line, hitting 87.7 percent of his free throws.

Last year was a mixed bag for Reeves when it came to facing Tennessee. In his first game in Knoxville, he scored 18 points, perfect from the free throw line while struggling from the rest of the floor. Kentucky won by seven.

Kentucky won the rematch, too, by a dozen points. But Reeves' contributions were more limited in that contest. He scored only eight points, hitting just one of three three-pointers and one of four free throws.

When Reeves makes multiple three-pointers in a game this season, the Wildcats are 12-3 (h/t 247 Sports). Since the calendar turned to 2024, Reeves has scored at least 14 points in every contest and has failed to hit multiple threes just twice.

Calipari will need to find ways to scheme Reeves open from deep and give him the green light to shoot.