Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Kentucky vs. Tennessee, Round 2: TV/Streaming Info, Keys to the Game, and Predictions

Published

2 years ago

on

The Kentucky Wildcats will travel to Knoxville and look to even the season series against the Tennessee Volunteers in the regular season finale.
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

After 30 games, the regular season finale is here, as Kentucky Basketball will travel to Knoxville and take on the Tennessee Volunteers, looking to even the season series.

The Volunteers just beat South Carolina in Columbia while claiming their 11th SEC regular-season championship and first outright title since the 2007-08 season.

While the battle for the SEC regular season title is over, this is an important game for both teams in terms of postseason seeding. For Tennessee, they will have a great shot at a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament with a win.

Advertisement

A Kentucky win means a double-bye for the SEC Tournament and into contention for a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Both sides will be motivated for postseason purposes, but with it being a rivalry, they will also be motivated by pride. Kentucky will want to avenge their January loss to Tennessee, which the Vols controlled from start to finish. Tennessee will want to win on senior night and sweep the season series.

The Volunteers will come into the game close to being a double-digit favorite. It’s these types of games that Kentucky has been successful in as of late. Where the odds and projections count them out, and they get a statement win.

Here’s what to watch for in Round 2 of Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers.

Advertisement

Contain The “Other Guys”

In the first matchup, Kentucky did a good job of slowing down Dalton Knecht, holding him to just 16 points on 35.7% shooting, tied for his lowest shooting percentage in SEC play.

The issue was they gave up season-highs to Zakai Zeigler and Josiah-Jordan James, 26 points each.

Of course, defense has not been a strong suit of this Kentucky team and it will be difficult to contain Knecht to the same inefficient numbers, but they can’t allow such an explosion from the “other guys”.

With Zeigler, the key is to fight through screens, as more than half of his shot attempts this season have come from 3. That said, he is a driving threat, but shooting just 40% from the field, he is looking to pass, making it important not to overhelp on the 5-foot-9 guard.

Advertisement

James and Jonas Aidoo are the Volunteers’ other scoring threats. James is a physical 4 who is also a willing shooter. An improved Justin Edwards with likely share this matchup with Adou Thiero.

As for Aidoo, he is your traditional post-up man. Whichever of Kentucky’s bigs that brings the most physicality and rebounds will get the most run in this matchup.

Physicality

Kentucky’s lack of physicality has been attacked for much of this season. However, over the last month, the Wildcats have improved in that area. Just look at their win over Mississippi State last week, where they responded to the physicality and came back from as many as 13 points.

In the first Kentucky-Tennessee matchup, both teams combined for 45 fouls, the most in a Kentucky game this season. Given Tennessee’s reputation as one of the most physical teams in the SEC, expect more of the same on Saturday. The priority will be on the boards, where Kentucky cannot give up 18 offensive boards again and give Tennessee so many extra possessions.

Advertisement

Transition Offense

The one weakness of Tennessee’s top three KenPom defense is their transition defense. Self-aware of this, this was a point of emphasis for Rick Barnes last game and will be the same on Saturday.

For Kentucky, they have to force turnovers and grab defensive rebounds to get those transition opportunities. Those are two things they did not do well against Tennessee last time.

With Tennessee being fairly good at taking care of the ball, rebounding will likely be the primary source of those fastbreak chances.

Opposing Players to Watch

G Dalton Knecht, 6-6, 204 lbs

Advertisement
  • 20.7 PPG (2nd in SEC)
  • 4.8 RPG
  • 40.6% 3P (12th in SEC)

G Zakai Zeigler 5-9, 171 lbs

  • 11.4 PPG
  • 5.9 APG (1st in SEC)
  • 1.9 SPG (4th in SEC)

F Jonas Aidoo, 6-11, 241 lbs

  • 12.2 PPG
  • 7.6 RPG (T-3rd in SEC)
  • 54.0% FG

Kentucky Wildcats Basketball vs. Tennessee Volunteers

How do you see this one playing out? Send us your thoughts in the comments section!

Also published on a Sea of Blue.

Related Topics:
Advertisement

Men's Basketball

National Reporter Matt Norlander Chooses Kentucky as Landing Spot for Star Forward Milan Momcilovic

Published

1 day ago

on

May 28, 2026

By

Photo via Imagn Images

The Milan Momcilovic sweepstakes is underway, with multiple teams involved in the No. 2 overall transfer player’s recruitment. It is believed that Kentucky and Louisville are the top candidates after his decision to pull out from the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday, May 27.

Along with the in-state rivals, Arizona and St. John’s are both very well still in the mix, but the Red Storm are slowly falling out of contention after landing Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou.

On May 28, national reporter Matt Norlander cleared the air on CBS Sports’ Eye On College Basketball podcast, stating that he believes Kentucky will land Momcilovic by the end of the weekend or Monday.

Advertisement

“My prediction right now is that Milan Momcilovic will go to Kentucky,” Norlander said. “My understanding is that decision is going to come in the next one, two, three days, four days max.”

He would go on to talk about the other top programs involved, stating why he thinks they will be working in an uphill battle in this bidding war.

“My forecast is that it’s Kentucky, but you know, we’ll see if Louisville can get in there,” he continued. “Arizona I don’t think has the money to contend, like I think Kentucky and Louisville just have more money to play with.”

For the worried members of the Big Blue Nation, this is certainly good news to be put out by one of the most trusted college basketball reporters at the national level.

Advertisement

Going by this report and Adam Zagoria’s from NYT Sports, it shouldn’t be long until a commitment decision for Momcilovic is announced publicly.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

BREAKING: No. 2 Ranked Transfer Milan Momcilovic Removes Name From 2026 NBA Draft

Published

2 days ago

on

May 27, 2026

By

Kamil Krzaczynski | Imagn Images

Milan Momcilovic has officially removed his named from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return to college for his senior season.

Kentucky leads in his recruitment, followed closely by St. John’s, Louisville and Arizona. A backdoor to Iowa State is also still open.

The No. 2 ranked transfer would be a huge addition to Kentucky’s 2026-27 roster if he committed, averaging 16.9 points per game on 50.6/48.7/87.8 shooting splits last year. Funny enough, in the current world of college athletics that we live in, Momcilovic was responsible for eliminating the Wildcats from the NCAA Tournament, dropping 20 points in the Round of 32.

Advertisement

He would go on to lose to Tennessee in the Sweet 16 with Iowa State, so at least we know that there’s some inner-hatred for a long-standing rival if he ends up a Wildcat.

He made the most three-point shots in Division I basketball and is a versatile 6-foot-8 wing, which would fit perfectly into Mark Pope’s offensive system. He completed workouts with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves during the draft process.

Now, the bidding war for the top dog begins, with some of the most prestigious programs in the sport placing their bets on the star forward.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Men's Basketball

BREAKING: Malachi Moreno Set to Return to Kentucky for Sophomore Season

Published

5 days ago

on

May 24, 2026

By

Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

One of the biggest pieces of the 2026-27 roster has officially made a decision. Malachi Moreno, the Georgetown, Kentucky native, will forgo the 2026 NBA Draft and return to the Wildcats for his sophomore season!

As time went on, Moreno proved through personal workouts and in-gym drills that he could play the game of basketball at the next level, eventually drawing interest from teams slated with the first 20 picks of the draft. The 7-foot big had eyes on him from teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.

Ultimately, the former state champion and his camp felt that the deal offered from Mark Pope and his staff was just too sweet, with the idea of developing even further and potentially becoming a lottery pick in next year’s draft making logical sense for both sides.

Advertisement

In his freshman season, Moreno averaged 7.8 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks per game, all on 58.2% shooting. As many assume, this was just a trial for what he can become on the court.

Videos circulated on social media of Moreno hitting jump shots from deep range, visibly looking stronger and more confident in his decision making. Although he decided to not participate in the NBA Combine, a strong indicator for his return to college, it would’ve certainly been interesting to see what type of statline he could’ve produced against the league’s future stars.

Nonetheless, Moreno is back in the blue and white for one more go at No. 9 with Pope and his new teammates. This time, he won’t be predicted as the third best center on team, or plagued with the freshman tendencies – he’ll be ready to start at the five from the moment he arrives in Lexington.

No. 24 is back.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending