Vols starter confirms suspicion about Tennessee's mindset in Sweet 16 matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats
The Tennessee Vols will face off against the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night in Indianapolis in the Sweet 16. Tennessee is 0-2 against Kentucky this season after dropping both regular season matchups to the Wildcats. The feeling from fans and folks in the media leading into this game is that Tennessee is motivated to exact […]
The Tennessee Vols will face off against the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night in Indianapolis in the Sweet 16.
Tennessee is 0-2 against Kentucky this season after dropping both regular season matchups to the Wildcats.
The feeling from fans and folks in the media leading into this game is that Tennessee is motivated to exact some revenge on the Wildcats.
"Kentucky players giving them bulletin board material after their win the other night against Illinois, I think that drives a guy like Zakai Zeigler," said VolQuest's Austin Price on Tuesday during an appearance on Ramon, Kayla, and Will. "He lives to be motivated. And it doesn't take much. You give that guy an inch, he's going to take a mile. And saying 'we're going to win this game', stuff like that, it definitely is going to light the fire. Not that he needs to have it lit, because I can promise you that guy burns 24/7."
The bulletin board material that Price mentioned happened on Sunday after Kentucky's win against Illinois when Wildcats guard Lamont Butler guaranteed a win against the Volunteers.
"We can’t focus about anything but the next game. We just have a lot of love and we’re going to win that game," said Butler after Kentucky advanced to the Sweet 16.
Vols forward Igor Milicic Jr confirmed on Wednesday that Tennessee is indeed looking for revenge against Kentucky.
"This being a rivalry, it makes us want it more," said Milicic. "I feel like that's the positive in this [matchup]. We are seeking revenge for sure."
This game has the potential to get real chippy. And I suspect that's what exactly what will happen on Friday night in Indianapolis.
Vols guard Chaz Lanier said on the Everything Orange podcast this week that the team that plays the "toughest" will win the game. I guess we'll find out on Friday night which team that is.
