Kentucky vs. Tennessee: 5 Reasons Tennessee Can Pull Off the Biggest Upset of the Season

By Taylor Sturm

5 Reasons Tennessee Can Pull Off the Biggest Upset of the Season

Tennessee Basketball — The Tennessee Volunteers are on the verge of being a bubble team, but need a marquee win to jump into the discussion for a place in the Big Dance. The Vols will get that opportunity, as undefeated No. 1 Kentucky travel to Knoxville on Tuesday, Feb. 17. As crazy as it sounds, Tennessee may be the best chance Kentucky sees at an upset until the start of tournament play. Here are five ways the Vols could pull off an impossible upset.

5. Overlooking the Vols

UK Hoops

5. Overlooking the Vols

UK Hoops — Picked to finish 13th in the SEC by the preseason media poll, the Volunteers currently sit with a top 80 RPI and a record that could easily lead to an NCAA tournament berth with a few big wins down the stretch. Kentucky, coming off of a dominating performance over the South Carolina Gamecocks, could easily come into Knoxville high on confidence and low on focus.

4. Zone Defense

Tyndall

4. Zone Defense

Tyndall — Nasty is the only word that comes to mind when trying to fully describe the way Donnie Tyndall’s defense operates. If this team avoids foul trouble early, it’s a nightmare for opposing offenses to break down. Kentucky, although the more talented team, could struggle to score at times throughout this game.

3. Home Game

Thompson Boling Arena

3. Home Game

Thompson Boling Arena — So far this season, the Wildcats have struggled in four of their six away games in SEC play. Remember, the last time that Kentucky played in Knoxville they lost by 30 points. These are two completely different teams in every way, but Thompson-Boling Arena will be rocking in anticipation for this game.

2. Lack of Elite Scorer

John Calipari

2. Lack of Elite Scorer

John Calipari — The Kentucky Wildcats may be the most talented team in the country, but this means that they have way too many mouths to feed. Against LSU, Karl Anthony Towns made a selfish play, and John Calipari kept him in to punish him and the team, nearly costing UK the game. Tennessee has struggled against teams with one go-to scorer this season, and the Vols could see an advantage, as the entire team has to have success for this Kentucky offense to work.

1. Josh Richardson

Josh Richardson

1. Josh Richardson

Josh Richardson — Arguably the most underrated player in the country, the senior guard has transformed from the best one-on-one defender in college basketball last season to a go-to scorer for Tennessee this season. His all-around game has been able to take the Vols far beyond what many believed this team capable of and could carry this team past Kentucky. He has never scored more than six points against UK; expect him to go off no matter the outcome.

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Teams in this article »

Tennessee Volunteers

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Kentucky Wildcats

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