The Kentucky Wildcats (17-9, 8-5 SEC) will try to overcome one of the country’s top scoring defenses when they welcome the No. 10 Tennessee Volunteers (20-6, 9-4 SEC) on Saturday. Tennessee defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 68-59 at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday.
Santiago Vescovi had a standout performance with 15 points and eight rebounds. The Volunteers remain third in the Southeastern Conference.
Kentucky won a close one on Wednesday at Humphrey Coliseum, beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs 71-68. Oscar Tshiebwe topped the scoresheet with 18 points. With 13 points, Chris Livingston also impressed.
The Wildcats remain fourth in the Southeastern Conference. The teams are meeting for the final time this season. Kentucky will be looking for a season sweep against Tennessee after triumphing in the only prior game 63-56 at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 14. Antonio Reeves led the Wildcats with 18 points, while Tshiebwe contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Uros Plavsic had 19 points in the losing effort. The Volunteers have been led this season by Zakai Zeigler (10.9 ppg), Vescovi (10.9), and Olivier Nkamhoua (10.7). Nkamhoua also has grabbed 5.0 rebounds per game, while Zeigler has dished 5.5 assists per game.
Tshiebwe and Reeves have been the primary providers for the Wildcats on offense, averaging 14.6 and 13.2 points per game, respectively. Tshiebwe also has pulled down 12.2 rebounds per game, second-most in the NCAA.
Sahvir Wheeler has recorded 4.5 assists per game. Holding opponents to 56.4 points per game, the Volunteers are one of the best scoring defenses in the nation (3rd).
The Wildcats have had the advantage in recent games between the teams at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, winning six of the last 10.
In the last 10 games, Tennessee is 6-4 with an average margin of +6.2 (67.3-61.1). For the season, the Volunteers are averaging 72.3 points per game, compared to 56.4 for opponents. Kentucky has a 7-3 record over the last 10, scoring 72.0 points per game on average while holding opponents to 68.8 (+3.2 margin).
VOLUNTEERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Julian Phillips: 7.6 | 14.8 | -7.2
Points per game:
Julian Phillips: 4.4 | 8.7 | -4.3
Rebounds per game:
Julian Phillips: 2.6 | 4.7 | -2.1
Assists per game:
Santiago Vescovi: 1.0 | 2.3 | -1.3
WILDCATS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Chris Livingston: 14.4 | 9.7 | +4.7
Sahvir Wheeler: 6.0 | 12.5 | -6.5
Points per game:
Jacob Toppin: 14.8 | 11.4 | +3.4
Sahvir Wheeler: 2.4 | 6.2 | -3.8
Assists per game:
Sahvir Wheeler: 2.4 | 4.5 | -2.1
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
Tennessee -1.5 (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
