Tennessee has faced a larger challenge than #2 Kentucky already this season by playing #1 Kansas in which they came out victorious. That game was in the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena, not a hostile atmosphere like Rupp Arena, and it didn’t have SEC regular season ramifications. Coming off of an embarrassing loss Tuesday night against Vanderbilt; the Vols desperately to put on a good showing Saturday against the Cats.
Senior center Wayne Chism and Sophomore Forward Scotty Hopson lead the Vols this season with 13.1 points per game. Both will need to exceed their averages to come out successful against Kentucky. Leading the Cats is a pair of freshmen; John Wall is averaging 16.7 points per game, and Demarcus Cousins is averaging a double-double with 16.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
There will be several key match-ups in the game on Saturday. Tennessee has got to get the ball inside to Chism early and try to get fouls on Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson. On that note, Chism has to make sure and play tough defense without fouling. Bobby Maze and Melvin Goins are both solid defenders and should be able to put at least some pressure on John Wall and Eric Bledsoe. Maze and Goins, however, need to attack Kentucky’s guards in the same sense that Chism needs to attack Kentucky’s bigs.
“We absolutely have got to get out to a great start. You cannot go into a place like Rupp and spot them anything. Transition is where they are so deadly. They are the best transition team in the country and we have to key on getting back on defense if we are going to have any chance to win.” UT Head Coach Bruce Pearl
This game is going to be extremely important and tough for Tennessee swingman Scotty Hopson. Hailing from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Hopson has many detractors and angry Wildcat fans because of his choice to play college ball at Tennessee instead of joining Big Blue. Neither Coach Pearl, nor Scotty seem to be too worried about that though. “Scotty has been through all of that stuff last season and I do not have to say anything to any of these guys to get them ready to go versus Kentucky. It’s Tennessee and Kentucky, enough said,” added Pearl.
Scotty also seems very prepared and excited to take on the Cats. “SEC road games are all tough and all are in hostile environments. The other road games that we have played in this conference have prepared me to be able to ignore the boos and things that fans might say. I’m just going in there focused and ready to play my game. Coach has really been preaching to me to start creating my own scoring opportunities and using my talents to the best of my ability,” says UT Forward Scotty Hopson.
The time for talk is over, the stage is set, ESPN’s College Gameday is in the house and both teams are ready to the nation what they are made of. Coach Pearl hopes to improve his 3-5 against Kentucky and his 2-2 against Coach Calipari. Rupp will be rocking, but will Kentucky keep rolling in the SEC East? Or will Tennessee come to play and shock the college hoops world?
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