Kentucky has tall task of trying to end Tennessee's hot streak to start SEC play

Kentucky and Tennessee have had extremely similar seasons to this point, but both have gotten to where they are now in different ways. For example, Kentucky started the year 15-1 through its first 16 games. Tennessee is currently 13-3. Kentucky beat Louisville by 10 on the road. On a neutral site, the Cardinals beat the Lady Vols 89-65.

However, since that Louisville game, Tennessee has remained solely in the win column. They have won six straight games and are 5-0 in SEC play. Their closest game in the conference to this point was a 10-point road victory against… Mississippi State… who Kentucky just lost to by 12 in The Hump. Kim Caldwell has the Lady Vols playing their best basketball of the year, and they are showing no signs of slowing down.

The Cats are the best team that Tennessee will have faced in the SEC yet, and last season, Kentucky pummeled the Lady Vols 82-58 in Historic Memorial Coliseum. Caldwell’s fast-paced and high-octane style of play played into Kentucky’s favor.

Clara Strack had a tremendous outing against Tennessee last season, putting up 23 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the win. Teonni Key‘s services will be greatly missed on Thursday considering she also played well against Tennessee a year ago, recording 18 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 28 minutes of play.

With Key out, it’ll be interesting to see how someone like Lexi Blue does. She played 17 minutes against Tennessee last year, and she’ll likely get more run than usual yet again against the Lady Vols. The whole team will need to step their game up in order to knock off the No. 17 team in the nation in front of 10,000+ rowdy fans on the road.