After having its 21-game win streak against Southeastern Conference opponents snapped by Georgia in Rupp Arena, Kentucky travels three hours south to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on longtime rival Tennessee.

Georgia became only the third team this season to outrebound the Wildcats, in handing UK its first SEC loss since 2002. UK was just 4-of-19 from three for the game as the Bulldogs won for only the fourth time ever in Lexington, 65-57.

Although their conference win streak was snapped, the Cats still have a nine-game SEC road winning streak intact. Overall, UK has won 37 of its last 40 games and 25 of its last 27 away from Rupp Arena.

The Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee enters Tuesday?s game with a 10-3 overall record and a 2-2 mark in SEC action. UT opened league play with a 24-point win over Georgia, before falling 95-57 at Florida. The Vols rebounded with a home victory over Vanderbilt last Wednesday, 76-66, but were handed a 21-point loss at South Carolina Saturday.

Tennessee and Kentucky have played three common opponents this season – Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt and Georgia. UT is 3-0 against the teams, while UK is 2-1 after the loss to the Bulldogs Saturday.

Scooter McFadgon, a transfer from Memphis, leads the SEC with 18.1 ppg, while shooting 93.7% (59-of-63) from the charity stripe. Junior Brandon Crump, who was 5-for-5 from the field against UK in Lexington last year, averages over nearly 16 points and seven rebounds per game.

UT coach Buzz Peterson is enjoying his best start in three years at Tennessee. He holds a career record of 147-81 (.645).

Series History

Kentucky has played Tennessee more than any other opponent. This marks the 195th meeting between the squads, which first met on the hardwood Feb. 16, 1910 – a 26-5 UK win. It was the first future SEC team that the Wildcats ever played. The Cats own a 132-62 advantage in the series.

The Wildcats own a narrow 45-43 advantage over the Volunteers in Knoxville. The Cats are 9-7 vs. UT in Thompson-Boling Arena and 9-8 overall (including a loss to Vanderbilt in the 1989 SEC Tournament) since the facility opened for the 1988 season.

Tubby Smith is 12-5 all-time against the Vols, including an 8-4 mark while at UK. Buzz Peterson, in his third season at UT, is 1-3 against Kentucky after splitting the series in 2002 and dropping both games to the Cats last season. Peterson also served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt from 1993-96. The Commodores were 1-7 against UK during that time.

Wildcat-Volunteer Connections

Both Tubby Smith and Buzz Peterson share served as head coach at Tulsa – Smith from 1992-95 and Peterson in 2001. Smith led the Hurricane to a 79-43 record, two Missouri Valley Conference regular-season titles and two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. Peterson’s Tulsa squad claimed the 2001 NIT title, finishing with a 26-11 record.

Peterson was recruited to play hoops at Kentucky by Joe B. Hall, and at the end of his official visit, he gave the staff a verbal commitment. But after returning home to Asheville, N.C., he chose to stay and play for North Carolina. The high school All-American was a member of the Tar Heels? 1982 national championship team and served as team co-captain as a senior in 1985. Peterson later served as best man in his roommate Michael Jordan’s wedding.

Tennessee associate head coach Chris Ferguson attended Cumberland College in Cumberland, Ky., from 1979-81.

UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart worked in administration at Tennessee from 1986-98, the last four years serving as the senior associate athletics director.

Smith Looking For 300th Win

Tubby Smith needs just one more win to reach 300 for his career and become just the sixth coach to reach the 300-win mark in 13 seasons or less. Others who have done so are Roy Williams, Everett Case, Denny Crum, Jim Boeheim and Nolan Richardson.

Smith?s current record is 299-111 (.729).