College Basketball Game of the Week: Tennessee vs. Kentucky

Story posted February 16, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Matthew Gelhard

The No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers host the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats as the SEC standings heat up as the regular season comes to a close. Tennessee sits in third place trailing second place Kentucky by a game and the division leading Auburn Tigers by two games.

The two teams faced off in January this year as Kentucky took the 107-79 victory. Both teams shot over 50% from the field but the Wildcats created the wide margin due to shooting almost 70% from the field and 95% from the free throw line.

The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tipoff on ESPN.

What to watch for: Tennessee

This Tennessee team lives through the play of flashy freshman guard Zakai Zeigler. He lights the flame with his ankle breaking handles and the exotic ways he can showcase his teammates on the floor.

Keeping it with the young studs, freshman guard Kennedy Chandler with his great concentration turns potential turnovers into key buckets. Driving towards the basket with shifty lay-ins and quick releases on threes will force Kentucky to finish plays or pay up.

Junior guard Josiah-Jordan James on the stat sheet is scoring 8.9 points a game but has averaged 16.5 over his last four contests. Tennessee’s leading scorer junior guard Santiago Vescovi led the Volunteers in the previous matchup but is a gametime decision.

What to watch for: Kentucky

The Wildcats are on a six-game winning streak including wins over now ranked No. 6 Kansas and No. 25 Alabama. The team ranks ninth in the country in scoring; freshman guard TyTy Washington scored 28 points in the last matchup against the Volunteers.

Junior guard Sahvir Wheeler is another key player to keep an eye on as he remains as a multi-tool player in the starting five. Wheeler is third in the nation in assists and dropped 21 points in the previous matchup against the Volunteers.

The Vols’ big men will have to contain the nation’s leader in rebounds per game in junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe with 15. Tshiebwe has been dominating against some of nations most skilled rebounders such as Florida’s Colin Castleton and Duke’s Paolo Banchero.

Key man off the bench, junior forward Jacob Toppin, will be sitting out yet again for the Wildcats as he still is recovering from a sprained ankle suffered in the game against South Carolina on Feb 8.

Verdict:

The difference between a win and loss in this matchup are the little things. The game will definitely be closer than the blowout in the previous matchup but if Vescovi sits out it will be a big blow for the volunteers.

The Wildcats have too much firepower in Wheeler and Tseiebwe for the Volunteers to steal this game.

Prediction: Kentucky 78 Tennessee 69

 

Matthew Gelhard is a third-year studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at mgg5264@psu.edu