Cats, Vols 2025 regular season games…

[MdWIldcat55]

Just a couple reminders about the two games this year:

At Tennessee, Kentucky played the entire game without Butler and basically without Carr (he’s credited with 1 minute but it’s less than that.)

At Rupp, the Cats played the entire game without Jaxson Robinson. Carr was still really hurt and didn’t score until the LAST MINUTE. And with about 9 minutes left in a two-point game, Butler went out and didn’t return. Tennessee quickly took the lead.

Oh yeah, and Tennessee already had that “revenge factor” some believe in, having lost in Knoxville.

In both games, Chandler was a non-factor, having not yet emerged as an option.

Other people stepped up, Perry and Noah (in Rupp) and Almanor (in both games). And the Cats just seem to match up well with Tennessee.

 

[akaukswoosh]

And the Cats just seem to match up well with Tennessee.

We have for a while.

 

[Runt#1969]

Stepped up, made our shots. Had fun. Won both games. Don't see why not make our shots and have fun again.

love me some ziggy ! I am gonna miss him !

 

[KyCPA2000]

If we shoot 50 percent or better, chances are we win. Otherwise, we likely lose. It's that simple

 

[crxohio]

Make the darn freethrows. And move on.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

12-24 from deep in both games

Repeat close to that, 10 or more, and keep the improved defense and UK should move on

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Great post but one big change I'll make is that I think this will even be a bigger revenge game. You know they feel humiliated. That doesn't just go away because they didn't get revenge the first time.

 

[crxohio]

We will have to play better this 3rd time around. Just don't beat ourselves. Get the lead and keep it.

 

[CatOfDaVille]

I feel good about this game with Butler playing. He really neutralizes Zeigler who makes their offense go. Plus they don't have a Knecht this year, and while Lanier is good, we have about 3 guys that are just as good as he is.

As long as we take care of the ball and hit a decent % from 3, I don't see how they can score enough to beat us.

 

[KyCatFan1]

Great post but one big change I'll make is that I think this will even be a bigger revenge game. You know they feel humiliated. That doesn't just go away because they didn't get revenge the first time.

Might lead to frustration if their shots aren't falling though.

 

[gbl97]

Just gotta keep Amari and Garrison from shooting (dunks are fine). Key to the game. I'm not really kidding.

 

[Possum]

The pressure is on Tennessee. All week long to think about it. I think they come out tight, clanking threes and with Kentucky’s improved defense, we hinder their shooting from 2 and we take round three.

 

[ukfan041]

I feel we are a bad matchup for them. If we are hitting from distance, we win.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Keep Ziegler contained, Butler out of foul trouble, and let our guards cook and we are in business.

 

[GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone]

SEC games, teams were allowed to play very physically. The way the game gets officiated can play a big role in who wins it. We can play either way but we're more of a finesse team. But like we've all known, all season long...we mostly live and die with our outside shooting. We're tough to guard but nearly impossible if our shots are going down at a good clip.

 

[catsfanbgky]

In both tournament games, UT has been called for 14 fouls. If they let UT play physical and not call the grabbing and bumping, we lose, call a fair whistle and we make our shots at a normal rate, we win.

 

[Broker]

Kentucky matched up well with Tennessee both times, even without key players like Butler, Carr, and Robinson. Despite Tennessee having the revenge factor, Kentucky stayed competitive. Other players stepped up, and Chandler wasn’t a factor.

Live by the 3, die by the 3. TN shut down our 3 point shooting and did not the two regular season games. This is how they kicked our teeth in. We did not respond with good ball movement to get points in the paint. We got out coached in the sweet 16. Just a simple fact. If you are not hitting or getting 3 point shots and do not have players that can create their own shot, You get beat.

 

[cats#1again]

Live by the 3, die by the 3. TN shut down our 3 point shooting and did not the two regular season games. This is how they kicked our teeth in. We did not respond with good ball movement to get points in the paint. We got out coached in the sweet 16. Just a simple fact. If you are not hitting or getting 3 point shots and do not have players that can create their own shot, You get beat.

Simple fact is
UT at their best was better than UK at our best this year
I thought they looked overrated all season until the end and they started playing great. Their team playing good would always give our offense fits because of the lack of athleticism