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

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1 year ago

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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 1⁄4 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!

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Men's Basketball

College Basketball Rankings: Where Kentucky Stands in Updated “way-too-early” Polls

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2 weeks ago

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July 3, 2026

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Where Kentucky basketball stands in ESPN and CBS Sports updated way-too-early rankings after more coaching changes, player additions, and injuries.
UK Athletics

Last offseason, Kentucky was considered a top-10 team and a true title contender, but ended the season as one of the most disappointing teams in the country, winning just one game in the NCAA Tournament.

This offseason, Kentucky is barely cracking the top 15 in most preseason rankings and will look to climb the rankings throughout the season rather than fall.

Still 120+ days out from the start of the regular season, ESPN and CBS Sports have updated their “way-too-early” rankings following Dusty May’s jump from Michigan to the NBA, more player additions for teams, and some early-season-ending injuries.

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The rankings remain fairly static, however, with the Wildcats holding steady in ESPN’s rankings while moving ahead of St. John’s in CBS Sports’ rankings following Donnie Freeman’s Achilles injury.

ESPN

17. Kentucky Wildcats

Previous ranking: 17 (no change)

Impact newcomer: Milan Momcilovic

Momcilovic was the best transfer in the portal, after a season in which he established himself as the best shooter in college basketball. The 6-8 forward withdrew from the NBA draft on the night of the deadline, committing to coach Mark Pope’s team a few days later after also being pursued by Louisville and Arizona. He’s immediately an All-America contender and the most dangerous player on the Wildcats’ roster, after averaging 16.9 points and shooting 48.7% from 3 last season.

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Projected starting lineup

Zoom Diallo (15.7 PPG at Washington)
Alex Wilkins (17.8 PPG at Furman)
Milan Momcilovic (16.9 PPG at Iowa State)
Ousmane N’Diaye (9.8 PPG for Cremona in Serie A)
Malachi Moreno (7.8 PPG)

CBS Sports

16. Kentucky Wildcats

Previous ranking: 17 (⬆️1)

This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning one of the top six scorers — specifically Malachi Moreno — from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, James Madison transfer Justin McBride, Providence transfer Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams and international prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Discusses Final Assistant Coach Position, “I’m not in desperate need of adding more pieces”

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2 weeks ago

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July 3, 2026

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Mark Pope isn't rushing to fill Kentucky's final assistant coach opening, saying pending NCAA rules on international players could shift his plans.
UK Athletics

Kentucky basketball has operated this offseason without a full staff. Assistant coaches Alvin Brooks III and Jason Hart left the program back in March, and Mark Pope has only filled one of the two spots since, hiring former NBA All-Star Mo Williams from Jackson State.

Despite that, Kentucky managed to bring in the 3rd ranked transfer class in the country, highlighted by Milan Momcilovic, and have secured a commitment from 2027 five-star Ryan Hampton.

“I like my organization a lot right now. I think this group is functioning at a high level,” Pope said about his staff in an interview with BBN Tonight. “I like the way our staff feels. I like the way we feel in the staff meeting every day. I like the way we’re executing on the road. I like the way we feel on the court right now.”

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With an assistant coach position sitting vacant, Pope is satisfied with how his staff is performing and says there is no urgency in filling the role. Instead, he’s waiting to see how NCAA guidelines and rules unfold in the coming weeks.

“I’m not in desperate need of adding more pieces, although I’m open to the idea,” he said.

“There are going to be a whole host of legal cases from our league testing the CSC and the NCAA on their current guidelines and rules on international players. And depending on what the outcome of those are, it could very much shift the direction we go with hiring.”

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Men's Basketball

Mark Pope Says Kentucky’s Final Roster Spot Is About Fit, “There’s got to be a very uniquely positioned piece”

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2 weeks ago

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July 3, 2026

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Mark Pope opens up on Kentucky Basketball's final roster spot, emphasizing fit over hype as the Nikola Kusturica recruitment nears a decision.
UK Athletics

Kentucky basketball is wrapping up its third week of practice in an eight-week summer training block. While the players are getting acclimated to Mark Pope’s system and to each other, there is still one roster spot to be filled.

“I am enjoying coaching these guys, but we’re also still really active in recruiting,” Pope said in an interview with BBN Tonight.

One name that Wildcat fans have been keeping a close eye on in recent weeks is Nikola Kusturica, a 17-year-old prospect from Serbia, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona and is a projected lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. His recruitment is down to Kentucky and UCLA, with the latter having the momentum and a decision expected soon.

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Whoever the final roster piece will be, Pope emphasizes that they must fit with the other 14 players on the roster.

“Where we are with our roster, there’s got to be a very uniquely positioned piece that fits,” he said.

“There are several different archetypes of piece that would fit this roster really well, but there’s also a lot of guys who are popping up as available or have been available for a little while who don’t turn out to be the fit that’s going to work for this team.”

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