The Tennessee basketball team is on a four-game winning streak, and they have arguably the most challenging game of the stretch coming up tomorrow at Rupp Arena against Kentucky. With Felix Okpara's status unknown, the Vols might be shorthanded in their quest to avenge their loss against Kentucky three weeks ago.
Let's hop into some bold predictions for the big game on ESPN tomorrow night.
Tennessee has less than 10 turnovers
Tennessee has averaged 9.75 turnovers per game over the winning streak, a very good mark in college basketball. Over the course of the year, Tennessee has averaged nearly 13 a game.
Rick Barnes will make it a major point of emphasis this week in practice not to give the ball up, as it was a major factor in the Vols' implosion against Kentucky a few weeks ago. Kentucky is 257th in defensive turnover percentage, so they aren't a very good team at forcing turnovers, which will benefit the Vols.
If Tennessee can clean up the mental mistakes that have slowed down lately, it should be able to keep its turnover total low.
The stars show up big again
One of the clearest takeaways from this stretch is that Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament have played at an All-American level over the past four games. Gillespie has averaged 19 a game, and Ament is at 24.5 over the stretch.
The stars showing out have taken this team to a new level. Gillespie has been great all year, but Ament has completely flipped the switch over the last month. He's starting to look like the player Rick Barnes has believed in all along.
I don't see any signs of the two slowing down and they will once again put up stellar performances.
Tennessee pulls off an "upset"
Yes, as of now, Tennessee is a 1.5-point underdog to Kentucky in Vegas. Therefore, if the Vols do get the win its an upset in the eyes of the sportsbooks.
Kentucky has played at a really high level recently, picking a huge road win at Arkansas last Saturday, but Tennessee has played at a high level as well, and you know that the last game these two met has left a bad taste in the Vols ' mouths.
The biggest edge I see is that the Vols have the two best players on the court and can handle Kentucky's inside presence.
It will be a very tight game back and fourth, but Tennessee picks up a win on the road 81-76.