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SEC TOURNAMENT THREAD: No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Tennessee

Ben_McKee

Well-Known Member
Apr 2, 2021
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Good Saturday afternoon to ya.

Texas A&M is on the verge of upsetting Arkansas to go to the SEC Championship Game where it'll play the winner on Tennessee/Kentucky.

No. 9 Vols (24-7) and No. 5 Cats (26-6) will tip about 25 minutes after A&M/Arkansas. Here's some pregame reading material for you — strength/weaknesses of Kentucky and some notes on the game:

Notes on today’s matchup:
  • Tennessee is making its fourth straight SEC Tournament semifinal appearance.
  • In SEC Tournament meetings, Tennessee is 5-12 against Kentucky
  • Overall, Tennessee has won 7 of the last 12 games against Kentucky
  • UT and UK split their two meetings this season, each team winning on its home court
  • Tennessee is 3-1 this season against AP top-10 opponents

Projected No. 5 Kentucky (26-6) starting lineup:
  • PG, Sahvir Wheeler, Jr. — transfer from Georgia
    • 10.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 30.8 minutes
    • All-SEC Second Team
      • Named to the Bob Cousy Final Five
    • Third in the country with 7.1 assists per game
      • Has 16 games with seven or more assists
  • G, TyTy Washington, Fr.
    • 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 28.9 minutes
    • All-SEC Second Team and All-SEC Freshman Team
    • Set the school record with 17 assists vs. Georgia
    • Averaging 12.6 points and 4.0 assists per game
    • Leads the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.45
    • 19 double-figure scoring games
  • G, Kellan Grady, Gr. — graduate transfer from Davidson
    • 11.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 32.9 minutes
    • Team-best 87 3’s on SEC-best 47.4% 3-point shooting
    • Averaging 11.8 points per game — 15 games with three or more 3's
  • F, Keion Brooks, Jr.
    • Averaging 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game
    • Scored in double figures in 16 games
  • F, Oscar Tshiebwe, Jr. — transfer from West Virginia
    • 17.1 points, 15.3 rebounds, 31.7 minutes
    • SEC Player of the Year and All-SEC First Team selection
    • leads the country in rebounding (15.3), offensive rebounds per game (5.3), offensive rebounding percentage (.198) and defensive rebound percentage (.347)
      • tied Dan Issel for the single-season UK record for double-doubles (26)
    • Team-best 17.1 points per game

Key Kentucky bench players:
  • G, Davion Mintz, Gr. — transfer from Creighton
    • 8.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 24.9 minutes
    • Second on the team with 43 3-pointers
    • Averaged 9.9 points per game during SEC regular-season action
  • F, Jacob Toppin, Jr. — transfer from Rhode Island
    • 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 18.0 minutes
    • Averaging 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game over his last seven games played
  • F, Damion Collins, Fr.
    • 2.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 7.4 minutes
  • G, Dontaie Allen, R-So.
    • 2.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, 6.7 minutes
  • F, Bryce Hopkins, Fr.
    • 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 6.5 minutes
  • F, Lance Ware, So.
    • 1.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 6.1 minutes

  • Kentucky is No. 2 in KenPom entering the game — KenProm projects a 71-69 Kentucky win
    • KenPom gives Tennessee a 43% chance of winning
  • 160th in adjusted tempo (67.5)
  • 185th in average height (76.9”)
  • 187th in experience (1.87 years)
  • 244th in bench minutes (28%)
  • 296th in minutes continuity (30.8%)
  • 328th in 2-foul participation (5.1%)

Kentucky offensive strengths: — No. 4 in offensive efficiency (120.8)
  • 1st in offensive rebound% (37.9)
  • 17th in block% (6.5)
  • 32nd in effective FG% (53.9)
  • 39th in 2P% (53.9)
    • 61% of points come from two’s (3rd)
  • 63rd in 3P% (35.8)
  • 64th in turnover% (16.7)
  • 67th in non-steal TO% (7.9)
  • 107th in A/FGM (53.4)
  • 111th in steal% (8.8)
  • 135th in FT% (73.0)
    • 15.4% of points come from free throws (303rd)
Kentucky offensive weaknesses:
  • 274th in FTA/FGA (26.9)
  • 351st in 3PA/FGA (27.9)
    • 23.6% of points come from three’s (342nd)

Kentucky defensive strengths: — No. 27 in defensive efficiency (93.7)
  • 26th in 3P% defense (30.1)
    • 29.6% of opponent points are three’s (238th)
  • 35th in effective FG% defense (46.5)
  • 43rd in FTA/FGA (24.5)
  • 60th in offensive rebound% (24.9)
  • 67th in A/FGM defense (46.2)
  • 73rd in block% (10.9)
  • 76th in 2P% defense (47.2)
    • 54.5% of opponent points are two’s (60th)
  • 123rd in steal% (9.9)
  • 125th in 3PA/FGA (36.2)
Kentucky defensive weaknesses:
  • 182nd in FT% defense (71.7)
    • 15.9% of opponent points are free throws (283rd)
  • 235th in turnover% (17.4)
  • 326th in non-steal TO% (7.5)

Refs for today’s game: (Rank per KenPom)
  • Doug Shows (No. 16)
  • Pat Adams (No. 30)
  • Chuck Jones (No. 41)

TV Crew (ESPN):
  • Karl Ravech (pxp)
  • Jimmy Dykes (analyst)
  • Marty Smith (sideline)
 
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