Tennessee @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2020 ) Kentucky 77, Tennessee 64

When sixth-ranked Kentucky dropped a pair of games in Las Vegas before Christmas, many outside program circles thought the club would not develop into an NCAA Tournament title contender. The Wildcats, though, are 16-2 since and have emerged as a serious threat to win their ninth national championship as they put their eight-game winning streak on the line against visiting Tennessee on Tuesday.

Kentucky clinched its 49th regular-season SEC title with a 73-66 victory over No. 15 Auburn on Saturday behind 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds from sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley, who leads the team at 16.3 points per game. "I think a lot of people doubted us early,'' Quickley told the media. "We lost a couple tough games in Vegas and people were questioning us if we could get to this point, questioning if we could eventually get a Final Four or a championship or something like that. But we stayed faithful to the grind and trusted the process and we're here now." Tennessee, which has split its last eight games, is coming off a 63-58 victory over Florida on Saturday behind 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes from freshman guard Josiah-Jordan James. "I feel like it makes the game easier for a lot of people on both ends of the court, especially on the offense and not pressure on the other four starters," James told reporters when asked about playing his best. "It allows them to play more freely. Just being in attack mode and trying to find others, definitely opens up the floor.”

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT TENNESSEE (16-13, 8-8 SEC): Senior guard Jordan Bowden has produced a team-high 13.7 points per game overall this season, but that number jumps to 16.2 in true road contests. Junior guard Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season to lead the conference with 2.4 per outing, and needs four to break the school record of 73 in a season set by C.J. Black in 1997-98. Junior forward John Fulkerson has averaged 17.1 points in his last eight games, raising his season number to 13.1, while James contributes 7.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (24-5, 14-2): Quickley on Monday became the first player in school history to win consecutive SEC Player of the Week honors - an award that started in 1984. The 6-3 Maryland native has scored 95 points over his last four games, shooting 50 percent from the field - 15-for-27 from 3-point range - and 22-for-23 from the free-throw line while totaling eight steals. Junior forward Nick Richards averages 13.9 points and a team-high 7.8 boards after scoring 14 versus Auburn, but hasn't reached his rebounding average in the seven games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Wildcats were third nationally entering the week in free-throw percentage at 79.5.

2. The Volunteers have scored 1,061 points and allowed 1,061 in 16 SEC games.

3. Kentucky snapped a two-game series slide with a 77-64 victory at Tennessee on Feb. 8 behind 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals by freshman G Tyrese Maxey.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 77, Tennessee 65