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SEC Tournament championship preview: Tennessee vs. Kentucky live stream, prediction

By Billy Williford

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Vols are back in the SEC Tournament Championship Game. Here is the preview of the UT Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats.

Can you believe it? Tennessee is back in the SEC Tournament Championship game for the first time since the 2008-09 season when they fell to Mississippi State. But their opponent isn’t the Bulldogs this time around; it’s the Kentucky Wildcats. Junior forward Admiral Schofield was quoted after their last game, saying, “It’s great, man. We wouldn’t want it any other way. Who else would we want to play?”

This game will mark the third time this season that Tennessee and Kentucky will play against each other. No question beating Kentucky is hard enough but the fact that Tennessee has a 2-0 advantage this season makes it tougher.

However, when it comes to rematch games for the Vols this season, they haven’t lost. Tennessee is 7-0 against teams that they have already played.

As for the Wildcats, this is nothing new for them. Can this young team defend their 30th title? Kentucky has actually won the last three titles. Coach John Calipari has his team playing well at the right time but can they hold off the regular season co-champs?

Before we preview both teams and give our prediction, here is the information you need for Sunday’s SEC Tournament Championship Game.

No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats
When: Sunday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. E.T.
Where: Scottrade Center; St. Louis, Mo.
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Line: Tennessee -1
Over/Under: 137

VIEW OF THE VOLS

Record: 25-7, 13-5 SEC

Last 5: 5-0

Last 10: 8-2

Tennessee is on a six-game winning streak. During that span, the most points they have given up was 66 points, and that was to Arkansas.

2-0 in the SEC Tournament has the Vols in the Championship Game. Friday’s game was a bit sluggish as they barely held off a charging Mississippi State team for a 62-59 win.

On Saturday the Vols took on the Arkansas Razorbacks in a revenge game from a 95-93 OT loss from earlier in the season. Tennessee controlled the entire game, and Jordan Bone came out and paced the Vols to an 84-66 win.

Bone was on fire and went crazy for 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. He was also a near perfect 3-for-4 from the three-point line. Also, he only had one turnover with four assists and added two rebounds in 29 minutes.

Admiral Schofield continued his hot streak with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting and was a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. The entire game Schofield was getting to his spots and knocking down that mid-range jumper.

BRACKET UPDATE

In the latest bracketology, from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Tennessee is still the three seed in the South region playing Bucknell. That game would be played in Nashville, which would be a massive Vol Nation crowd. Jerry Palm also has Tennessee as a three seed but in the Midwest region playing UMBC. Palm also has the Vols playing in Nashville.

VIEW OF THE WILDCATS

Record: 23-10, 10-8 SEC

Last 5: 4-1

Last 10: 6-4

Scary to say but the Wildcats appear as they are hitting their stride. But, doesn’t it make sense? Kentucky has owned the SEC Tournament since it’s been around.

The Championship game will mark their third game in three days, but their two games of the tournament haven’t been close. On Friday, the Cats took on Georgia, and the game was never within question. They handled Yante Maten and the Bulldogs with ease.

Alabama had an upset on Friday against the top-seeded Auburn Tigers to play Kentucky on Saturday. And, the Tide was without big man Donta Hall due to an injury.

So, it could be looked upon as Kentucky hasn’t really been challenged yet and has coasted to the Championship Game. In the game against Alabama, sophomore forward, Wenyen Gabriel was a perfect 7-for-7 from the three-point line. The Cats also got a big game from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 19 points and eight assists.

PREDICTION

Kentucky is no stranger to the SEC Tournament Championship Game and will be ready to play against a Vols team that has beaten them twice this year. Will the Cats be worn out? They had three players play over 30 minutes in the Alabama game.

As for Tennessee, this could be their first title since the 1979 season. Ironically that season is the last time Tennessee beat Kentucky three times in the same season. Can the Vols do it again?

Before the tournament started, I picked Tennessee to win the whole thing. I didn’t have them playing Kentucky, but that isn’t going to change my mind. This Tennessee team is deep, and their defense has been as good as it has been all season. I like the Vols in a grind it out type of game. Maybe the clutch Lamonte Turner will hit a game-winning shot. 70-68 Tennessee.

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