PREVIEW: Kentucky looking for fifth win at Tennessee in series history

Kentucky is 4-27 all-time against the Tennessee Lady Vols in Knoxville, according to Tennessee’s official athletics website. It’s been a rough go for the Cats against the historically great juggernaut, but the good thing about history is that it’s in the past.

KSR has everything you need to know ahead of the 78th meeting between Kentucky and Tennessee.

Bio Blast

There’s a long history between the two programs, and unfortunately for Kentucky, it’s a history that Tennessee has dominated. The Lady Vols boast a 61-17 all-time record against the Cats. At one point, Tennessee won 24 consecutive games in the series from the 1986-87 season to the 2004-05 season.

Last season, however, Kentucky got the best of the Lady Vols in blowout fashion in Historic Memorial Coliseum. Clara Strack went off for 23 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in an 82-58 win. At the time, Kenny Brooks‘ squad badly needed the win to ensure they’d get the double bye in the SEC Tournament, and surely enough, they got the dub.

Tennessee is coming into this one on a hot streak, having won their last six games. They are one of just three teams in the SEC that remain unbeaten since the start of conference play (South Carolina, Vanderbilt). After falling to Louisville back on Dec. 20, they have kicked things into the next gear.

Scouting Report

The Lady Vols will be potentially their best player on Thursday. Janiah Barker, who many project to be a first round pick in the WNBA Draft, will be out against Kentucky. She is currently averaging 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-4 forward being out is unfortunate objectively speaking, but with Teonni Key also being out for Kentucky, it helps the Cats that there is one less big for them to deal with.

Talaysia Cooper will be asked to play an even bigger role than normal with Barker out, and she’s certainly good enough to be able to go off in her absence. Cooper is Tennessee’s leading scorer, averaging 14.9 points per game. She also averages 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.3 steals per outing.

Zee Spearman and freshman standout Mia Pauldo each average 11.5 points per game. Spearman reels in a team-high 7.1 blocks per game and swats away 1.5 shots per game, which is also a team-high. Pauldo has a sister, Mya, that is also on the team.

Tennessee Lady Volunteers roster

SEC Student-Athlete Initial Availability Report

Projected Kentucky Starters

#5 – Tonie Morgan

5-FOOT-8 – GUARD – SENIOR

15 PPG – 8.7 APG – 3.6 RPG

#8 – Asia Boone

5-FOOT-8 – GUARD – JUNIOR

10 PPG – 2.8 RPG – 2.2 APG

#0 – Jordan Obi

6-FOOT-1 – GUARD – GRADUATE STUDENT

10.8 PPG – 6.5 RPG – 1.2 APG

#32 – Amelia Hassett

6-FOOT-4 – FORWARD – SENIOR

9.7 PPG – 5.7 RPG – 1.7 APG

#13 – Clara Strack

6-FOOT-5 – CENTER – JUNIOR

16.1 PPG – 10.1 RPG – 3 BPG

Phoenix’s Prediction

Score: 81-76, Tennessee

MVP: Asia Boone

This is a game that I have flipped my thoughts on several times since the start of the season. At times (mainly against UCLA and Louisville), Tennessee has looked like a borderline top 25 team at best. At other times though and especially recently, the Lady Vols have truly looked like a top 10 squad. I’m thinking that Kentucky drops this one in a close game.

How to Watch/Listen

Location	Tipoff	TV	Radio	Live Stats
Food City Center (Knoxville, TN)	6:30 p.m. ET	SEC Network (Tiffany Greene and Carolyn Peck)	630 WLAP, 790 WKRD (Darren Headrick)	StatBroadcast

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Join The Discussion on KSBoard

Want to interact with the KSR crew during tonight’s game? Consider joining the conversation on KSBoard, where we’ll be sharing live updates while also answering questions and providing real-time analysis (and probably complaining about the officiating).