KSR Gameday: Kentucky vs. Tennessee round two at Rupp Arena

Good morning, folks! It’s gameday once again here at the KSR headquarters. Today we’ve got a special treat in store. Kentucky and No. 10 Tennessee will go head-to-head for the second time this season after the Wildcats upset the Volunteers down in Knoxville, 63-56, back on Jan. 14 in a victory that became a turning point for UK.

Kentucky won five straight SEC games after beating the Vols (ranked No. 5 at the time) the first instance around. The ‘Cats went on to lose two heartbreaking games to end that streak, falling to Arkansas and Georgia in back-to-back outings but recovered earlier this week with a season-saving win over Mississippi State in Starkville. UK is back on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble because of its most recent win, but sweeping the season series against Tennessee would be an even bigger boost for the Wildcats’ resume.

Today’s 1:00 p.m. EST showdown inside Rupp Arena is going to be about more than just the game, though. Throughout the action, Kentucky will honor members of the ’96, ’97, and ’98 Wildcat teams that produced two national championships and one runner-up finish. Former head coach Tubby Smith has already been making the rounds in Lexington this week and he’ll be the face of today’s honors. Kentucky class of 2023 signee Justin Edwards will also be in town to check out the action.

Now let’s get you better prepared for the Volunteers. Make sure to get to Rupp in time to snag one of these commemorative posters, too.

A special poster for a special group of teams.#GoBigBlue x @UK_HealthCare pic.twitter.com/bw1gxbofRr

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 17, 2023

Injuries all around

Both Kentucky and Tennessee will come into Rupp Arena later today dealing with injury issues.

For the Wildcats, the status of rotational backcourt players CJ Fredrick (rib) and Sahvir Wheeler (ankle) is still unknown on the morning of tipoff. Fredrick cracked a rib colliding with a cameraman during the Florida game on Feb. 4, and after trying to play through the injury vs. Arkansas, couldn’t give it a go on the road vs. Georgia. As for Wheeler, he twisted his ankle in practice on Monday of last week. Fredrick has missed the last two games for UK while Wheeler has missed the last three.

As for Tennessee, Josiah-Jordan James has missed back-to-back games with an ankle injury, while Julian Phillips was absent from Wednesday night’s win over Alabama with a hip injury. Rick Barnes shared the latest on each player Friday morning.

“I think it will be a game-time decision based on where we are right now,” said the Tennessee head coach.

James is the Vols’ third-leading scorer through SEC play at 9.4 points per game while Phillips is fifth with 7.9 points per game. They also combine to bring down 9.6 rebounds per outing.

How to Watch, Listen

Kentucky is ending the season with three straight Saturdays on CBS. It all starts with Ian Eagle and Bill “ONIONS” Raftery at 1 pm. The intro music will bring back all the March Madness feels. All the details on how to watch and listen to Kentucky vs. Tennessee.

• Date: 1 ET, Saturday, Feb. 18
• Location: Rupp Arena (Lexington, KY)
• TV Channel: CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery)
• Stream: CBS Sports app
• Home Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens, UK Sports Network (630 WLAP, 840 WHAS)
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 137, SXM App 961

The KSR crew will get you ready for the matchup with the KSR Pregame Show, which airs LIVE from KSBar and Grille at 10:30 a.m. on 630 WLAP, 840 WHAS, or iHeart Radio. KSBar and Grille opens for business beginning at 11 a.m.

Vegas, Computers

After Tennessee opened as a 4.0-point favorite on Friday, the line has been bet down for the Vols to just 1.5 with the over/under set at 135, according to Action Network. The analytical minds over at KenPom and BartTorvik aren’t as kind to the ‘Cats though. KenPom gives Kentucky a 36 percent chance to win with a projected final score of 69-65 in favor of Tennessee while BartTorvik gives UK a 28 percent chance with a projected final score of 69-63 for the Vols. ESPN’s Matchup predictor has Kentucky with just a 27.2 percent chance to pull off the upset.

UT enters this matchup fresh off an upset of No. 1 Alabama at home. Tennessee covered the 3.5-point spread in the 68-59 victory. It came on the heels of back-to-back losses at the buzzer inside Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee failed to cover in four straight games prior to Wednesday night’s win. The over has hit in six straight games for Kentucky.

Statistical comparison

Antonio Reeves, Cason Wallace get us ready for the Vols

To preview what lies ahead for Saturday’s tilt, Kentucky’s top (healthy) backcourt options of Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace spoke with reporters on Friday morning. The duo talked about their team’s mentality at this late stage in the season, how Wallace overcame a tough shooting night against Mississippi State, and also touched on the heavy minutes’ load that has been sent their way as of late.

• Injuries to Kentucky’s backcourt placing larger load on starting five
• Cason Wallace’s aggression overshadows poor shooting performance

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Updated SEC standings

TEAM	CONFERENCE	GAMES BACK	OVERALL
Alabama	12-1	—	22-4
Texas A&M	11-2	1	19-7
Tennessee	9-4	3	20-6
Auburn	8-5	4	18-8
Kentucky	8-5	4	17-9
Missouri	7-6	5	19-7
Vanderbilt	7-6	5	14-12
Florida	7-6	5	14-12
Arkansas	6-7	6	17-9
Georgia	6-7	6	16-10
Mississippi State	5-8	7	17-9
Ole Miss	2-11	10	10-16
South Carolina	2-11	10	9-17
LSU	1-12	11	12-14

College Basketball on TV today

TIME	AWAY	HOME	TV
12:00	Notre Dame	No. 7 Virginia
12:00	Illinois	No. 14 Indiana
12:00	Seton Hall	No. 20 UConn
1:00	No. 10 Tennessee	Kentucky	CBS
2:00	Oklahoma	No. 6 Texas
2:00	No. 19 Iowa State	No. 12 Kansas State
2:00	Wake Forest	No. 15 Miami (FL)
2:00	Oklahoma State	No. 22 TCU
4:00	No. 9 Baylor	No. 5 Kansas
4:00	DePaul	No. 16 Xavier
4:30	Villanova	No. 24 Providence
6:00	Georgia	No. 1 Alabama
7:00	No. 13 Gonzaga	Pepperdine
7:30	No. 18 Creighton	St. John’s
8:00	Colorado	No. 8 Arizona
10:00	BYU	No. 17 Saint Mary’s
10:30	California	No. 4 UCLA

Shoutout to our friends at Sumner County

Kentucky fans, we know you will be making your way to Nashville for the SEC Tournament. WE SAY, WELCOME BACK.

Experience beautiful Sumner County, Tennessee, just minutes from Nashville! Discover our storied history and strong country music heritage. Indulge in our delicious dining options.

Relax in the simplicity of our lake, parks, and farms.

Connect with the authenticity of Sumner County, Tennessee!