Tennessee and Barnes

[Joneslab]

Nobody needs to know much of anything about Tennessee, because we all already know. But just two quick things on a Monday morning:

1. They opened as a 4.5-point favorite.

2. Rick Barnes, in 38 years of coaching, has been out of the Sweet 16 four times.

[DA#23]

I don’t like facing them for a third time just out of principle, but it should be noted that due to our injuries Tennessee will be facing yet another version of this year’s Kentucky Wildcats.

Should be a tough game.

[George]

I don’t like facing them for a third time just out of principle, but it should be noted that due to our injuries Tennessee will be facing yet another version of this year’s Kentucky Wildcats.

Should be a tough game.

We talked about this for a second last night after the game, I think, but weren’t we without Jaxson AND Butler last time? If anything, we should be a stronger version of the team that beat UT twice, already.

Having said that, I’m terrified by the prospect of playing them a third time. Seems like Cal beat Florida three times in one season, but I don’t remember when, or how good they were.

Can’t think of another three-game sweep in recent history.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Ist time we played Tennessee we were without Carr and Butler was limited

2nd Time we were without Butler and Robinson

[Joneslab]

I don’t like facing them for a third time just out of principle, but it should be noted that due to our injuries Tennessee will be facing yet another version of this year’s Kentucky Wildcats.

Should be a tough game.

Somebody said yesterday that they'd much rather face a team we're 2-0 against rather than one we're 0-2 against.

I guess I agree...but man, to pull something like this off is going to take a pretty Herculean effort.

The game of basketball comes down a lot of times to "who wants it." That's an old cliche but the more ball you watch, the more you see teams winning who break out of the scouting report and just will the team to win. That's why revenge games like this scare you, because you can have guys rising up and making plays just out of sheer will.

However, there's also something to be said about how certain teams match up well against others. I think Tennessee, particularly because of Amari on their bigs, is a good match-up for us. Much better than a team like Alabama, whose athleticism on the front line would cause problems for us if we played them 50 times.

[KentuckyWild2020]

The best we can hope for is that TN is pressing, not full court, but mentally trying to get over that hump feeling.

[largebluej]

Butler played in the second game versus them at Rupp. That was when he aggravated the shoulder landing awkwardly after getting tangled up with one of their dudes, I think Lanier. He missed several games after that.

[DA#23]

We talked about this for a second last night after the game, I think, but weren’t we without Jaxson AND Butler last time? If anything, we should be a stronger version of the team that beat UT twice, already.

Having said that, I’m terrified by the prospect of playing them a third time. Seems like Cal beat Florida three times in one season, but I don’t remember when, or how good they were.

Can’t think of another three-game sweep in recent history.

We beat Florida three times in 2015, they had a losing record that year.

We were without Butler and basically no Carr in January, and then in February we didn’t have Robinson.

[Joneslab]

Having said that, I’m terrified by the prospect of playing them a third time. Seems like Cal beat Florida three times in one season, but I don’t remember when, or how good they were.

It looks like the last time we accomplished it was in the 2022 season when we beat Vandy three times.

Before that, Kentucky beat Tennessee three times in 2018. Beat Georgia three times in 2017. Beat Alabama three times in 2016. Beat Florida three times in 2015. Got beat by Florida three times in 2014. Beat Florida three times in 2012. Beat Florida three times in 2011. Beat Tennessee and Alabama both three times in 2010.

[George]

It looks like the last time we accomplished it was in the 2022 season when we beat Vandy three times.

Before that, Kentucky beat Tennessee three times in 2018. Beat Georgia three times in 2017. Beat Alabama three times in 2016. Beat Florida three times in 2015. Got beat by Florida three times in 2014. Beat Florida three times in 2012. Beat Florida three times in 2011. Beat Tennessee and Alabama both three times in 2010.

Okay, so it happens more than I realized.

Sweet.

[DA#23]

Are you all able to access Jon Scott’s UK site?

[George]

Are you all able to access Jon Scott’s UK site?

Yeah. I was just too lazy to do the research.

[DA#23]

I guess I need to delete my history then, I’m unable to visit the site.

[Catsrock]

As Tenn hung around the top 5 pretty much all season I kept doubting they were quite on that level with no more post presence than they have. They are good. Guards will often/usually drive teams in the tournament. But still—if we get the version of Amari Williams we’ve grown to love and expect—I do think it’s a good matchup. Of course we need Brea to show up as well like yesterday.

I think Zeigler really has trouble driving on us. Keep Williams and Carr out of foul trouble. Make some shots. Hope for the best. Go Cats!

[Jload]

For whatever reason Ziegler hasn't played well against us. He is the key to thier team. I also think the way game is called will be a huge factor.