Kentucky @ Vanderbilt preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 29, 2020 ) Vanderbilt 62, Kentucky 71

No. 12 Kentucky has several high-profile players, but it was a seldom-used freshman who made the biggest difference in Saturday's win over Tennessee. The Wildcats, tied for the SEC lead with Auburn and LSU, seek a seventh win in eight games when they travel to Vanderbilt on Tuesday.

Johnny Juzang, a 6-6 forward whose season-high offensive output this year was six points and totaled 43 points in 19 games, collected 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and drained both free-throw attempts in the 77-64 win. "If you have a clear vision and goal in mind of what you want to do, you're going to keep pushing," Juzang said. "You're not always going to feel great or motivated or positive. That's just not realistic, you know? You're going to go through stretches where you're down and not motivated and might lose a little bit of hope. You've just got to keep going, no matter how you feel." Vanderbilt lost its first five games after losing leading scorer Aaron Nesmith to injury by at least 15 points, but in four games since - playing potential NCAA Tournament teams Kentucky, Florida, LSU and Mississippi State - the Commodores have been competitive. In their first meeting, they lost at Kentucky by nine on Jan. 29 after leading by double digits in the second half.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT KENTUCKY (18-5, 8-2 SEC): Sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley (14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds) scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half against the Volunteers, and has scored in double figures in 12 straight games - the longest streak by a Wildcat since PJ Washington did it 12 straight times last season. Junior forward Nick Richards is averaging 14.6 points on 67 percent shooting and team highs of 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Tyrese Maxey (13.4 points, 3.0 assists) and Ashton Hagans (12.3 points, 6.8 assists) also score in double figures for the Wildcats.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (9-14, 1-9): The Commodores gave LSU its first conference loss last Wednesday but shot just 40 percent from the field and 25 percent beyond the arc in an 80-70 loss to the Mississippi State on Saturday. "I don’t think there was a letdown from (the LSU) game or any hangover from that,” coach Jerry Stackhouse said. “It was just a lack of attention to detail that hampered us a bit in that second half. If we can come out of the halftime with a little more focus and attention to what we need to do, I think that will be good for us (Tuesday) night." Saben Lee (16.9 points, 4.5 assists), who had 33 points versus LSU, scored 20 points against the Bulldogs, but fellow junior Maxwell Evans (8.3 points) was held to seven points after scoring a career-high 31 against LSU.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kentucky leads the all-time series 145-47 and 48-23 in Vanderbilt. The Wildcats have won seven straight against the Commodores.

2. Vanderbilt is 95-238 against ranked opponents and 65-78 in those games at home.

3. The Wildcats rank third nationally in free throws made (440), sixth in free-throw shooting (78.7 percent) and 14th in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (28.8).

PREDICTION: Kentucky 83, Vanderbilt 71