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TUESDAY NCAA BASKETBALL FREE PLAY
Tennessee hasn't had much success against Kentucky over the past few seasons, but this time around, it's the one sitting in the Top 25.
The 11th-ranked Volunteers (16-3, 7-1 SEC) enter their 200th matchup with the Wildcats (15-7, 5-3) as a ranked team for the first time since 2001 when they play at Rupp Arena on Tuesday.
Kentucky and Tennessee have the second-most played rivalry in SEC history with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 137-62. Kentucky swept all three meetings last season, including a 76-62 victory in the conference tournament, and has won eight in a row over Tennessee.
The Vols have dropped six straight in Lexington since a 47-46 win on Jan. 12, 1999.
Tennessee comes into this contest looking to tie its season-high winning streak at six games after an 86-72 victory over Mississippi on Saturday. The Vols shot 59.4 percent from the field in the first half en route to surpassing their SEC win total from last season.
Tennessee maintained its one-half game lead in the East Division over No. 7 Florida, which the Vols upset 80-76 on Jan. 21 to spark their current win streak.
"We're better than I thought. We're 16-3 and in first place right now," first-year Vols coach Bruce Pearl said. "Who could've anticipated the attendance being what it is and the support we're receiving?"
Senior guard C.J. Watson led five Tennessee players in double figures Saturday with 18 points, while JaJuan Smith had a career-high 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals off the bench. Stanley Asumnu finished with 14 points, Chris Lofton had 12 and Major Wingate added 10.
The Vols, who lead the SEC with 10.7 steals per game, grabbed 12 against the Rebels.
Tennessee now plays four of its next five on the road, including a rematch with the Gators on Feb. 22.
"It's tough to win on the road in any league. If you can get one and especially in some of the places we have to go to, it separates you because not many people are going to beat Kentucky at Kentucky or Florida at Florida," said Pearl, whose team is 3-2 away from home this season.
Tennessee will be trying to win six consecutive conference games for the first time since the 1998-99 season when it takes on the Wildcats, who just had their five-game SEC winning streak snapped.
Kentucky committed 17 turnovers and allowed Florida to shoot 58 percent from the field in a 95-80 loss on Saturday. The Wildcats had won five in a row following three straight losses.
"In the first few minutes of the second half, we really got rattled," coach Tubby Smith said. "We made some bad decisions during that stretch. When you're playing a talented team like Florida, in a hostile arena, you have you have to play with a lot more poise."
Kentucky's three leading scorers led the way Saturday as Joe Crawford tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo scored 22 points and Randolph Morris finished with 14.
The Wildcats are 15-4 against Tennessee since the start of the 1996-97 season.
7.00pm ET
Tennessee @ Kentucky
Recommended Play: Kentucky -2.5 -109 (1*)
Good luck
Mike Thomas
www.ChampionPlays.com
Tennessee hasn't had much success against Kentucky over the past few seasons, but this time around, it's the one sitting in the Top 25.
The 11th-ranked Volunteers (16-3, 7-1 SEC) enter their 200th matchup with the Wildcats (15-7, 5-3) as a ranked team for the first time since 2001 when they play at Rupp Arena on Tuesday.
Kentucky and Tennessee have the second-most played rivalry in SEC history with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 137-62. Kentucky swept all three meetings last season, including a 76-62 victory in the conference tournament, and has won eight in a row over Tennessee.
The Vols have dropped six straight in Lexington since a 47-46 win on Jan. 12, 1999.
Tennessee comes into this contest looking to tie its season-high winning streak at six games after an 86-72 victory over Mississippi on Saturday. The Vols shot 59.4 percent from the field in the first half en route to surpassing their SEC win total from last season.
Tennessee maintained its one-half game lead in the East Division over No. 7 Florida, which the Vols upset 80-76 on Jan. 21 to spark their current win streak.
"We're better than I thought. We're 16-3 and in first place right now," first-year Vols coach Bruce Pearl said. "Who could've anticipated the attendance being what it is and the support we're receiving?"
Senior guard C.J. Watson led five Tennessee players in double figures Saturday with 18 points, while JaJuan Smith had a career-high 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals off the bench. Stanley Asumnu finished with 14 points, Chris Lofton had 12 and Major Wingate added 10.
The Vols, who lead the SEC with 10.7 steals per game, grabbed 12 against the Rebels.
Tennessee now plays four of its next five on the road, including a rematch with the Gators on Feb. 22.
"It's tough to win on the road in any league. If you can get one and especially in some of the places we have to go to, it separates you because not many people are going to beat Kentucky at Kentucky or Florida at Florida," said Pearl, whose team is 3-2 away from home this season.
Tennessee will be trying to win six consecutive conference games for the first time since the 1998-99 season when it takes on the Wildcats, who just had their five-game SEC winning streak snapped.
Kentucky committed 17 turnovers and allowed Florida to shoot 58 percent from the field in a 95-80 loss on Saturday. The Wildcats had won five in a row following three straight losses.
"In the first few minutes of the second half, we really got rattled," coach Tubby Smith said. "We made some bad decisions during that stretch. When you're playing a talented team like Florida, in a hostile arena, you have you have to play with a lot more poise."
Kentucky's three leading scorers led the way Saturday as Joe Crawford tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo scored 22 points and Randolph Morris finished with 14.
The Wildcats are 15-4 against Tennessee since the start of the 1996-97 season.
7.00pm ET
Tennessee @ Kentucky
Recommended Play: Kentucky -2.5 -109 (1*)
Good luck
Mike Thomas
www.ChampionPlays.com