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Tennessee basketball: Round three between Vols-Wildcats is set for Saturday

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 02: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 02, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 02: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 02, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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After the seven-point win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Tennessee basketball team moves on to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the Semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky won in a blowout in Rupp Arena. Rematch. The Tennessee basketball team won in dominating fashion in Knoxville. Rematch.

That rematch comes on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the 2019 SEC semifinals when Tennessee and Kentucky meet for the third time for the second straight season.

This game has a long riding on the line. Obviously, an opportunity to win an SEC Championship but there could be a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament at stake.

Before we preview both teams and give our prediction, here is the information you need for Friday nights game.

No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No.3 Tennessee Volunteers

When: Saturday, March 16 at 3:00 p.m. E.T.
Where: Bridgestone Arena; Nashville, Tennessee
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Line:
Over/Under:

VIEW OF THE VOLS

Record: 28-4 (15-3 SEC)
Last 5: 4-1
Last 10: 7-3

The Vols looked impressive in their first-round matchup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Senior forward Kyle Alexander played arguably his best game of the season finishing with 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting and nine rebounds; seven were on the offensive end. Tennessee is going to need that type of game from Alexander on Saturday now that Kentucky’s Reid Travis is back in the lineup.

I mentioned this in the takeaways, but it’s only fair to give Lamonte Turner credit when he plays well. Turner is just 3-for-26 from the three-point line in the past six games, 11.5 percent. Furthermore, he’s 4 -for-31, 12.9 percent in the Vols losses this season. But, against the Bulldogs, he played well.

Turner didn’t force his shot; he just went with the flow of the game. In postseason interviews, he mentioned how he changed his mindset, and it showed with eight assists, two rebounds, and four steals.

VIEW OF THE WILDCATS

Record: 27-5 (15-3 SEC)
Last 5: 4-1
Last 10: 8-2

Every year it seems like we say the same thing, “the Wildcats are back in the Semifinals.” Kentucky is coming off an 18 point win against Alabama on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

The Tide kept it close for a while, but Kentucky was too much in the end thanks to a big game from Tyler Herro. The freshman guard scored 20 points on 8-for-14 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from the three-point line. He also added six boards, two assists, and two steals.

Reid Travis is back which should make a difference in the game. Am I one of those people that think the Vols would have lost in Knoxville if Travis played?

Uh, no. But, he does make a difference.

He played 23 minutes against the Tide scored eight points on 4-for-6 from the floor. He pulled down seven rebounds with three blocks. If Kyle Alexander plays as he did against Mississippi State, Travis should be a nonfactor.

PREDICTION

Take what we’ve seen from the two games from earlier in the season and throw it out the window. Both teams looked awful on the road and lost by double digits. So, who is playing better? Despite the Vols dropping three games in a month, it’s about the same.

So, I’m going with experience. When all the players buy in on the offensive and defensive end, they are nearly impossible to beat. Especially, when Lamonte Turner is playing in the flow of the offense and is not shooting Tennessee out of wins. Tennessee 74 Kentucky 72.

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