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Kentucky vs. Tennessee: TV/Streaming Info, Preview, and Betting Odds/PredictionsMen’s Basketball

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Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) reacts after a big basket.
Steve Roberts | Imagn

For the first time this season, the Kentucky Wildcats have lost back-to-back games. On Tuesday, they will travel to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers, playing to avoid a third-straight loss.

The Volunteers are also coming off a tough road loss, losing by two points to No. 1 Auburn, missing a late 3-pointer to give them the win. However, they have played their best at home, similar to Kentucky, winning their three SEC home games by an average of 18 points.

This Tennessee team is the typical, talented Rick Barnes squad of late. They rank first in defensive efficiency but struggle on offense at times and play at a conservative pace. A stark contrast to Kentucky.

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This game will be big for the SEC race, especially for Kentucky, who, after losing two straight, are sitting in 10th place. If they can pull off the upset, it would be big to get them back into the hunt for a top-four finish in the conference and double-bye in the SEC Tournament.

Let’s take a look at the matchup.

Slow Down Chaz Lanier

Similar to last season, Tennessee’s offense is centered around one player. Instead of Dalton Knecht, it is now Chaz Lanier, who was a Kentucky target in the portal last offseason.

Lanier is averaging 18 points per game going into Tuesday’s contest and has scored in double figures in all but two games this season. In the Volunteers’ three losses, Lanier’s averages fall to 12.3 PPG on 31% shooting.

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He will look to get most of his points from the 3-point line but is confident in his mid-range jumper and can slip to the basket if overplayed.

Slow down Lanier, and Kentucky will give themselves the best shot at the upset.

Pace

Tennessee plays at the slowest pace in the SEC and one of the slowest in the country. That is in stark contrast to Kentucky’s style, which is amongst the fastest in the country.

Slow paces have given Kentucky fits this season (i.e. Clemson), as they have been unable to speed up teams. They have been improving on the boards, which can help them to do that, but they need to generate more turnovers. In SEC play, opponents are turning the ball less than nine times per game.

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Kentucky has won 14 of their 15 games where they have scored 70 or more points. Tennessee is holding their opponents to just 62 points in SEC play. Which side will prevail?

Fatigue and Health

Fatigue and injuries are starting to catch up to this Kentucky team.

Andrew Carr missed the Vandy game and will be out for the near future, but there are also players playing through injuries. Lamont Butler is dealing with a shoulder injury. Brandon Garrison and Jaxson Robinson have been dealing with small issues over the last few weeks. This has certainly hurt the depth, which is why Trent Noah and Collin Chandler have seen higher-than-normal minutes.

Even with a week off, Kentucky did not look 100% against Vanderbilt. That said, that is no excuse for the lack of effort at times. They are going to have to battle through that against the no. 1 defense in the nation.

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Opposing Players to Watch

G Chaz Lanier, 6-4, 199 lbs

  • 18.0 PPG (4th in SEC)
  • 42.3% 3P (4th in SEC)
  • 3.6 3PM per game

G Zakai Zeigler, 5-9, 171 pounds

  • 12.3 PPG
  • 7.5 APG (1st in SEC, 5th nationally)
  • 2.1 SPG (5th in SEC)

F Igor Milicic, 6-10, 225 lbs

  • 10.0 PPG
  • 8.1 RPG (8th in SEC)
  • 64.8% FG

Kentucky Basketball vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Time: 7:00 PM ET on January 28th
Location: Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN
TV Channel: ESPN
Online Stream: ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens will have the call on the UK Sports Radio Network.
Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).
Rosters: UK | UT
Stats to Know: UK | UT
KenPom: UK | UT
Team Sheet: UK | UT

Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has Kentucky as an 8.5-point underdog with an over/under of 148.5 points. ESPN (22.4%), BartTorvik (22%), EvanMiya (21.1%), and KenPom (21%) all give the Wildcats less than 14 of a chance at victory. DRatings gives the Wildcats the best chance at 32.1%.

Predictions: KenPom and Haslametrics both project a 77-68 loss, and EvanMiya went with a 78-69 margin in favor of Tennessee. BartTorvik has Kentucky losing 76-68, and DRatings is at 81-76 for the Vols. Personally, I don’t love this matchup, given the slow pace of play and Tennessee’s elite defense, and for those reasons, I am taking Tennessee to win 81-74.

Send us your Kentucky vs. Tennessee score predictions in the comments section!

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Go CATS!

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball’s Practice Facility Sees Major Makeover

The Joe Craft Center, after years of casual criticism from Wildcats fans, has finally been given an upgrade.

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UK Athletics

Maybe the weirdest qualm of many that plagued John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky were the consistent complaints about the team’s practice facility, the Joe Craft Center.

From exaggerated rumors about leaks in the ceiling to general observations made about the court and facilities, fans, especially towards the end of that era, pointed to the Craft Center’s age as one of many signs of the times. Even in spite of occasional, supposed changes now and again.

In only his second year, Mark Pope has seemingly already addressed that complaint — at least to an extent.

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The official Kentucky men’s basketball account recently posted a video across all social media platforms of the team during summer practice, featuring and obviously removed Craft Center court.

The court itself has been redone, in addition to the graphics and banners on the wall. Alongside the hanging threads celebrating the program’s eight national championships, a ninth one has been tacked onto the end.

It simply reads: “#9 – The Assignment.” If fans weren’t already excited enough for Coach Pope’s sophomore season, a ninth title banner being fixed in the renovation’s spotlight should send folks through the roof.

It may seem like a small thing, but given the program’s track record in the last few years, it’s the small things that feel the biggest. Mark Pope not only understands the assignment, but he’s making sure his team does, too.

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Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

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Jasper Johnson advances at U19 camp.
Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

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Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

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Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

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James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

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They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

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The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

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– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

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– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)

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