One of the biggest Southeastern Conference basketball games for the Tennessee Volunteers this season could also be one of the most entertaining.
Tennessee's rivalry contests with Kentucky are always colorful and often unpredictable, and Saturday night's nationally televised showdown (8:30 on ESPN) inside Rupp Arena pits two top-10 teams. Both are coming off unexpected home losses, with No. 5 Tennessee (15-5, 5-2 SEC) having succumbed Tuesday to South Carolina and with No. 10 Kentucky (15-5, 5-3) falling on Wednesday to Florida, but each has the ability to turn up the tempo for a fun viewing experience.
"They're very explosive, and they can give it to you from all different levels and in all different ways," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Friday during a news conference. "They've got great speed, and they're a team that can really go on big runs against you. He's always had a team that can run, and transition has always been a big thing playing against Kentucky.
"Obviously transition defense will be important."
The most recent opponents for the Vols — Vanderbilt and South Carolina — play at a slower pace, which has resulted in fewer possessions per game.
Kentucky is averaging 88.7 points a contest, which ranks second in the SEC behind Alabama's 89.4. The Wildcats lead the conference in accuracy, making 48.9% of their shots from the floor and 40.1% from 3-point range.
A whopping five Wildcats average in double figures, which certainly has the attention of Tennessee junior guard and defensive specialist Jahmai Mashack.
"These games are exciting, and they're definitely something I look forward to," Mashack said Friday. "I'm only one guy, so I'm not going to be able to guard everybody at the same time, so it's just kind of knowing and gauging who's hot and being able to switch.
"I want to guard whoever is playing the best."
Senior guard Antonio Reeves leads Kentucky with 19.5 points per game, while freshman guard Rob Dillingham averages 14.2, senior forward Tre Mitchell 13.0, freshman guard Reed Sheppard 12.1 and freshman guard D.J. Wagner 12.0. Mitchell began his career at Massachusetts under Matt McCall, the former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach, and transferred to Texas and to West Virginia before arriving in Lexington.
Wagner missed the 94-91 overtime loss to the Gators with an ankle injury and is questionable for Saturday night.
Barnes spent nearly 10 minutes in his news conference Friday and was asked whether junior forward Jonas Aidoo and junior point guard Zakai Zeigler could bounce back from rough outings in the 63-59 loss to the Gamecocks. He also was asked whether Josiah-Jordan James and Tobe Awaka could snap out of their recent slumps.
"I just want us to be a confident team and be the team that I know we can be," Barnes said. "I want us to do what we practice."
The last time Tennessee ventured into such a sizable venue, the Vols were overwhelmed early by North Carolina in the Dean Dome on Nov. 29, falling behind 61-39 at halftime before playing much better in an eventual 100-92 loss. The Vols would like to prove they've learned a lesson from that experience.
"The first four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half are probably going to be the two most important parts of the game," Mashack said.
Said Barnes: "We're going to do what we do, and they're going to do what they do. With that in mind, I think it will be a high-level, high-tempo game."
Odds and ends
The Vols are somehow 6-1 against Kentucky under Barnes when the Wildcats are ranked in the top 10 but only 3-7 when they're not. ... Kentucky coach John Calipari is the active wins leader in men's college basketball with 805, with Barnes second at 794 and Bill Self of Kansas third at 789. ... Tennessee fifth-year senior guard Dalton Knecht is averaging 17.1 points per half in his last 11 halves.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.