No. 7 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville
Time: 2 p.m.
TV/radio: CBS/102.3 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
TENNESSEE (25-3, 13-2 Southeastern Conference)
Projected starters: F Kyle Alexander (6-11, 7.9); G Jordan Bone (6-3, 13.1); G Admiral Schofield (6-6, 16.7); G Lamonte Turner (6-2, 11.3); F Grant Williams (6-7, 19.1).
Key reserves: G Jordan Bowden (6-5, 10.3); F John Fulkerson (6-9, 3.6);
KENTUCKY (24-4, 13-2)
Projected starters: G Ashton Hagans (6-3, 7.6); G Tyler Herro (6-5, 14.2); G Keldon Johnson (6-6, 13.6); F E.J. Montgomery (6-10, 4.1); F P.J. Washington (6-8, 15.0).
Key reserves: G Immanuel Quickley (6-3, 5.4); F Nick Richards (6-11, 3.6).
WILDCATS REPORT
Kentucky has been one of the hottest teams in the country for a while, with wins in 14 of its past 15 games and the only loss in that stretch coming on a last-second tip-in by LSU on Feb. 12 in Lexington. Washington, one of the favorites for SEC men's basketball player of the year - along with Tennessee's Williams - has been an interior force. Herro is Kentucky's second-leading scorer but its best 3-point shooter, and he made five as part of a 29-point performance in the Wildcats' most recent game, a 70-66 comeback win over visiting Arkansas on Tuesday. Johnson is another perimeter threat at 36-for-92 on 3-point attempts this season. Kentucky will likely be without senior forward Reid Travis, who was injured in a win over Missouri last week and has missed the Wildcats' two games since then.
KEY MATCHUP
Kentucky dominated the Volunteers on the interior in their first matchup of the season - the Wildcats won 86-69 on Feb. 16 in Lexington - in a way not many saw coming. The Wildcats were more physical, dominated scoring in the paint and made life difficult for Alexander and inside. Since then, the Vols' toughness has been questioned by Herro - he said Tennessee was "scared" of Washington - and their fortitude has undoubtedly been a talking point for coach Rick Barnes, who knows his Vols will ultimately be judged on how they perform this month (and possibly next), not the past four. If Tennessee can perform well inside and hit some shots today, it will have a good chance of salvaging a season split in the rivalry series.