Kentucky at Tennessee 1/28

16BBall Fan · 01-26-2025, 01:32 AM

The Cats (14-5) (3-3) travel to Knoxville to take on Vols (17-3) (4-3). Both reams coming off road losses today. The Cats at Vandy and the Vols at #1 Auburn. The game is on ESPN at 7:00pm on Tuesday. Go Cats!!

**Old School Hound** · 01-26-2025, 01:59 AM

Tennessee is a terrible matchup for a ultra-soft team like UK. Cats will head into the Cal homecoming game on a three-game losing streak and facing a must-win game to avoid going 3-5 in the conference.

Bluecat · 01-26-2025, 04:19 PM

What worries me more about this game is our health status. Carr not 100% and looks as if Kerr may not return. Plus, Butler has taken a beaten lately we could be on a bit of a slide right now. However, I feel they are gritty enough to come out with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Gotta bring their A game every night. And being at Knoxville doesn't make it any better.

4 Quarters · 01-26-2025, 04:32 PM

I see the Rocky Top Boys winning in a big way.

**Old School Hound** · 01-26-2025, 11:31 PM

(01-26-2025, 04:32 PM)4 Quarters Wrote: I see the Rocky Top Boys winning in a big way.

We better find some way to pull it off, because a three game losing skid going into Cal's homecoming could be Dangerville. A loss to Cal under those circumstances would result in a Big Blue Nation Meltdown of epic proportions.

**Old School Hound** · (This post was last modified: 01-27-2025, 01:41 AM by Old School Hound.)

More from BBN---

@Sheee211:

"The Mark Pope era is dead."

@MMAoptimist:

"Sick of Pope's good guy act."

Cactus Jack · 01-27-2025, 11:52 AM

I'd expect Tennessee to be a 5-6 point favorite. Could see the game going a number of ways. Think Tennessee is a bit overhyped, but so are we. Both teams need this one, but they'll be at home.

At a certain point, going to wonder if Pope's current formula yields a better chance that we beat top teams but also a greater chance of being upset by a lesser opponent. Starting to think that this is going to be the case, at least for the next year or two.

Bluecat · 01-27-2025, 12:15 PM

(01-27-2025, 11:52 AM)Cactus Jack Wrote: I'd expect Tennessee to be a 5-6 point favorite. Could see the game going a number of ways. Think Tennessee is a bit overhyped, but so are we. Both teams need this one, but they'll be at home.

At a certain point, going to wonder if Pope's current formula yields a better chance that we beat top teams but also a greater chance of being upset by a lesser opponent. Starting to think that this is going to be the case, at least for the next year or two.

We are definitely better against the higher ranked teams. I think style of play is the reason for that. The lower ranked teams seem to be focused on slowing us down to win. The higher ranked teams are similar in style to UK which opens it up for us to get those wins.

**Old School Hound** · 01-27-2025, 12:38 PM

If we were healthy, I'd say we have a chance. I mean, Rick Barnes is on the opposing bench, so you always have a chance. But we are limping into this one. I don't like our chances. Rocky Top by double digits. Tony Pietrowski, celebrates a convincing win in Knoxville.

**-STAT-** · 01-27-2025, 02:16 PM

I'm keeping my comments to a minimum, only thing I have to say is:

At least it's the early game on ESPN.

Bluecat · 01-28-2025, 10:22 AM

Now that we know Butler is out and Carr is questionable I have a bad feeling this one could get ugly. Hope I am wrong and someone steps up and takes the lead and we beat Tennessee.

**-STAT-** · 01-28-2025, 10:47 AM

Sure was going to be a tough hill to climb but w/o your two primary ball handlers out there it just turned into mount Everest.

Tennessee is 8.5-point favorites, that was before the Butler news, kindly surprised that line hasn't moved much any. Carr is still questionable with the back, have to give him all the credit in the world for fighting through this injury and still playing, but if he's out tonight, it's going to take not only a monumental effort, but a literal perfect storm to win this.

As always, I'll be rooting for them, but I sure dread this one.

Cactus Jack · 01-28-2025, 11:36 AM

(01-28-2025, 10:47 AM)-STAT- Wrote: Sure was going to be a tough hill to climb but w/o your two primary ball handlers out there it just turned into mount Everest.

Tennessee is 8.5-point favorites, that was before the Butler news, kindly surprised that line hasn't moved much any. Carr is still questionable with the back, have to give him all the credit in the world for fighting through this injury and still playing, but if he's out tonight, it's going to take not only a monumental effort, but a literal perfect storm to win this.

As always, I'll be rooting for them, but I sure dread this one.

Came here to post the same thing. Wondering if the oddsmakers had the drop on this news, as I thought the thread would have been ~6.

Agree that it's going to be tough without Butler. Think we'll be okay offensively but will sorely miss his defense.

Wouldn't be nearly as much of an issue if we weren't already lacking depth. Wish the utmost success for Perry and Noah, but this is a game that you don't want to be relying on freshmen. Imagine that one or both will at least see some minutes.

Assuming no (or a very limited) Carr, I'm guessing that the rotation will be:
PG - Robinson
SG - Brea
SF - Oweh
PF - Almanor
C - Williams

See Garrison spelling each of the bigs and getting around 20 minutes. Think Chandler gets anywhere from 8-15 and Perry 5-10 minutes depending on the flow of the game. Noah may see spot duty.

Good news for Kentucky-- the over/under is around 149.5. Would have to think that a game played at a pace 10+ points more than Tennessee's average PPG would work in Kentucky's favor.

***Spud6*** · 01-28-2025, 12:31 PM

If we can make this an ugly game we can win. Perry is going to have to guard Ziegler who he can't guard. Robinson and Oweh going to have to have 20 a piece for us to win.