Why Tennessee basketball fans should be at least a little worried about the Kentucky game
The Tennessee Vols will host the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of two teams that are in vastly different places these days. Tennessee is ranked No. 5 in the nation and they've won five straight games after their narrow road loss to Arizona in mid-December. Kentucky, meanwhile, is unranked and they've lost […]
The Tennessee Vols will host the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of two teams that are in vastly different places these days.
Tennessee is ranked No. 5 in the nation and they've won five straight games after their narrow road loss to Arizona in mid-December.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is unranked and they've lost two straight games, including an embarrassing 71-68 loss at home to a really bad South Carolina team on Tuesday.
It's safe to say that almost everyone who follows college basketball assumes that Tennessee will beat Kentucky on Saturday in Knoxville.
There's certainly nothing to suggest that the Wildcats will sneak away with a win, but I do think Vols fans should be on alert for a close game.
Everything is seemingly in disarray at Kentucky right now. Oscar Tshiebwe told reporters after the loss to the Gamecocks that he was pleading with his teammates to show some fight. Tshiebwe even suggested that Kentucky head coach John Calipari should consider putting a walk-on in the game.
This is essentially rock bottom for Kentucky.
And sometimes there's nothing worse than playing a team that recently hit rock bottom (Tennessee football learned this when they lost to South Carolina this past season).
Tshiebwe is clearly trying to inspire his team. And he used some strong words to do it. There's no doubt that Kentucky has the talent to be a top-10 team. If they can figure out their internal issues or whatever is going on in Lexington, then the Wildcats can still be a dangerous team.
Tennessee needs to be prepared for a battle this weekend. Maybe the Vols blow out Kentucky like everyone is expecting, but that won't happen unless Tennessee treats this game like a matchup against the No. 1 team in the nation.
If Tennessee plays their game, they should win. But if they look past the Wildcats and Kentucky plays inspired basketball, it could be a frustrating afternoon on Rocky Top.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
