No. 8/8 Kentucky Wildcats (14-2, 5-0 SEC)
at
Tennessee Volunteers (10-8, 3-2 SEC)
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005 – 7:00 p.m.
Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, Tenn.
TV: ESPN
Kentucky, the only undefeated team in SEC play, takes its 14-2 record and 5-0 league mark on the road to Knoxville Tuesday to face the Tennessee Volunteers. The Wildcats earned a convincing 89-58 victory over LSU Saturday, while Tennessee was dealt an 85-62 loss at No. 14 Louisville.
After barely escaping Ole Miss to bring home a 53-50 victory last week, Kentucky was hitting on all cylinders against the Tigers. The Wildcats shot over 50 percent for the third time in four games and hit a season-high 11 three-pointers to earn the 31-point win. Patrick Sparks was 5-of-7 from beyond the arc to total 15 points, while Kelenna Azubuike led all scorers with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
Kentucky is currently in a stretch where it plays five of six games on the road. The Tennessee game marks the first of three-straight road contests, the first time since the 1996-97 season UK has played three-consecutive SEC road games. The Cats travel to Arkansas this weekend before going to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Feb. 5.
Scouting the Volunteers
Tennessee is 10-8 overall and brings a 3-2 conference record into the Super Tuesday battle with Kentucky. The Volunteers played their final non-conference game at Louisville Saturday, falling 85-62. Senior forward Brandon Crump went down with an ankle injury in that game, and his status for Tuesday is questionable. Tennessee has lost three of its last five games, but its two wins were over nationally-ranked Mississippi State at home and in overtime at Florida.
Senior Scooter McFadgon leads the Vols in scoring with 15.5 ppg, while freshman guard and Kentucky native Chris Lofton is close behind with 12.1 ppg. Andre Patterson, who is expected to step in if Crump is unable to play, averages 7.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg.
Buzz Peterson has a career record of 162-100 after three seasons at Tennessee, one at Tulsa and four at Appalachian State. He?s 57-50 at UT.
Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Notes F 44 Chuck Hayes 6-6 242 Sr. 11.6 9.3 Leads SEC in offensive rebounds F 24 Kelenna Azubuike 6-5 208 Jr. 14.3 4.6 Shooting 55.8% FGs in SEC play C 33 Randolph Morris 6-10 266 Fr. 8.6 3.9 Avg just 15.8 mpg in SEC play G 4 Rajon Rondo 6-1 171 Fr. 7.9 *2.8 2.688 spg tops UK records G 22 Patrick Sparks 6-0 180 Jr. 11.4 *4.8 5-of-7 3FGs vs. LSU TENNESSEE Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Notes F 22 Andre Patterson 6-7 210 Jr. 7.5 6.2 Has started 13 of 18 games C 1 Major Wingate 6-10 250 So. 4.9 3.1 13 pts, 8 rebs vs. Louisville G 2 Scooter McFadgon 6-5 205 Sr. 15.5 3.8 82.2% FT shooter G 5 Chris Lofton 6-2 190 Fr. 12.1 3.7 2004 Kentucky Mr. Basketball G 32 C.J. Watson 6-2 170 Jr. 11.6 *5.0 Fourth in SEC in assists *assists per game
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TV: – Brad Nessler, Rick Majerus
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Tennessee Volunteers Information
