Knoxville, TN (My Sportsbook) - SEC foes collide in Knoxville this evening as the 24th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers welcome the Kentucky Wildcats to Thompson-Boling Arena.
Kentucky is 12-4 overall this season and opened SEC play with a 70-60 decision over Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Wildcats have posted most of their wins against rather weak opponents, and they enter tonight's tilt with an 0-2 mark in true road games.
As for Tennessee, it carried a two-game skid into Saturday's league opener against Georgia, but the Vols were able to beat the Bulldogs in an 86-77 final on the road. Tennessee is now 10-4 overall, and while that record is certainly solid, it falls a bit short of lofty preseason expectations. Bruce Pearl's squad was expected by some to win the SEC rather easily, but it is clear now that the Vols are in for a fight.
Kentucky owns a 140-65 series lead over Tennessee, and the teams split a pair of meetings a year ago.
The Wildcats depend heavily on the talents of two players, as Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson are expected to carry the club every time out. Meeks has emerged as an explosive scorer, as he is netting 24.2 ppg on the strength of his 41.9 percent shooting from three-point range. Meeks also leads the club in steals, as he is tremendously quick with great basketball instincts. As for Patterson, who mans the post, he checks in with 18.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg. Patterson is second on the team in blocks and passes extremely well for a big man. He is shooting a staggering 70.9 percent from the field and shoots 78.7 percent from the charity stripe. Kentucky is generating 79.8 ppg this season while limiting foes to 64.8 ppg. In the 10-point victory over Vanderbilt, Kentucky held the Commodores to 31.6 percent shooting from the field, and the strong defense was the most obvious key to victory. Meeks scored 21 points to pace four double-digit scorers for the Wildcats.
Versatile forward Tyler Smith continues to lead Tennessee in scoring, as he is posting 17.7 ppg on 48 percent shooting from the field. Smith is also pulling down 6.4 rpg to go along with 57 assists, and Wayne Chism checks in with 12.4 ppg and 9.1 rpg. Cameron Tatum provides 10.4 ppg, and J.P. Prince rounds out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 10.3 ppg. The balanced offensive attack has enabled the Vols to generate 84.3 ppg while limiting opponents to 75.1 ppg. All five starters reached double figures in scoring for Tennessee in the win over Georgia last time out. Smith racked up 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Vols, who earned a commanding 48-35 rebounding advantage, including a 19-8 edge on the offensive boards. Bobby Maze tallied 16 points for Tennessee.
