Tennessee Volunteers Preview

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The 'Power' T as the Volunteers describe it makes me sick. I think its the terrible color that causes me to become ill every time the Wildcats play the Volunteers.

 

The ‘Power’ T as the Volunteers describe it makes me sick. I think its the terrible color that causes me to become ill every time the Wildcats play the Volunteers.

Time for Kentucky to put that disheartening Texas A&M game in the rear view mirror and bounce back in Tuesday’s match-up with SEC rival Tennessee. To help prepare you for the game, we’ll do a quick run down of the “low-down dirty snitches” from the Big Orange.

  • Record: 8-6, (0-2 SEC)
  • Strength of Schedule: 58th toughest in the country
  • Best Win: vs. #23 Wichita State (W 69-60)
  • Notable Losses:  vs. #20 Georgetown (L 36-37), vs. Memphis (L 80-85)
  • Ken Pomeroy Ratings: Ranked 93th Overall in NCAA Division I
  • Tennesse Points Per Game: 65.2  (Ranked 236th)
  • Kentucky Points Per Game: 77.4 (Ranked 31st)

From the looks of this picture, I would guess that Kenzo Martin does some amateur modeling in the Knoxville area during the offs-season.

  • Head Coach: Kenzo Martin (2nd year)

Cuonzo Martin became Tennessee’s 18th men’s basketball coach after leading Missouri State to the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship in 2010-11.  Martin is 27-21 in his second year as the head coach at UT.

Coaching Highlights:

  • Tennessee, head coach, 2011-Present
  • Missouri State, head coach, 2008-11
  • Purdue, assistant, 2000-08

Stokes had solid games against a better Kentucky team last season. Expect Stokes to give the Wildcats problems.

 Best Player:  #5 Jarnell Stokes (Sophomore, 6’8″. 270lbs.)

  • 11.2 points per game
  • 7.7 rebounds per game
  • 1.1 assist per game
Fans may remember Stokes from last season as he graduated high school early to join the Vols mid-season and had an impact performance in both of UT’s losses to the Wildcats in the 2011-12 season.  He is a big body inside with a surprising amount of skill and touch around the rim.  Many may remember Jimmy Dykes talking about his size 20 shoes, which resemble the shoes worn by Ronald McDonald.  Stokes could easily give the Wildcats difficulty in the post with his play-making ability.  I look for the Vols to pound it inside with Stokes early and often.

Vegas Spread: Kentucky 14.5 favorite

In my opinion, that is an incredible high spread considering the Cats have had difficulty putting away opponents.  I anticipate a close game in the first half with UK pulling away in the second to a 8 point victory.

My Pick:  UK 67 – UT 59