UT Vols offense could give it an edge against Kentucky

Tennessee didn’t follow Kentucky’s lead. Its fans can be grateful for that.

The night after Kentucky was upset by LSU on a last-second tip-in, No. 1-ranked UT took care of business against South Carolina on Wednesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The 85-73 victory extended the Vols’ school-record winning streak to 19 games and upped their record to 23-1 going into their top-five matchup with No. 5 Kentucky on Saturday night at Rupp Arena.

Never mind UT’s record and ranking. Kentucky likely will be favored.

The odds of the Wildcats losing consecutive home games on their home court are astronomical. They have lost only nine times at Rupp Arena in coach John Calipari’s 10 seasons.

Don’t underestimate UT’s assets, though. The Vols are in their fourth week atop college basketball’s top-25 polls for a reason.

South Carolina was reminded why.

After limiting their two previous opponents to under 36 percent shooting, the Vols went on the offensive against the Gamecocks. They made six of their first eight 3-pointers to lead by as many as 15 points in the first half.

Their offensive highlights extended beyond 3-pointers. Grant Williams twice scored on drives to the basket, capped by left-handed shots off the glass. He accounted for another first-half field goal on a high lob that John Fulkerson converted into a dunk.

Tennessee’s offensive balance could serve it well against the Wildcats, who have built a reputation for defense while winning 20 of 24 games. But they came up short on offense against LSU, especially in the second half when it was outscored 41-31.

Although UT’s Grant Williams is the league’s premier post player, Kentucky’s strong four-man post rotation will give it an advantage inside. Conversely, UT should have an edge on the perimeter.

Four Tennessee guards – Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bowden, Jordan Bone and Lamonte Turner - scored in double figures against South Carolina. They thrived early in the second half when Tennessee accelerated the tempo while upping its lead to 19 points. A faster tempo and full-court game also would favor UT against Kentucky.

Saturday’s game became even more important from UT’s perspective when LSU won Tuesday night in Rupp Arena. The Tigers now trail Tennessee by only one game in the SEC standings, and they have the far easier schedule down the stretch.

Tennessee must play Kentucky twice and LSU on the road. It also has games against Mississippi State and Auburn, two likely NCAA tournament teams. Other than UT, LSU won’t play a team higher than sixth in the SEC standings.

So, more than UT's No. 1 ranking could be on the line Saturday in Lexington, Ky. Tennessee might need a victory to win a second consecutive SEC regular-season championship. 

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

Vols' 19th win:UT Vols basketball rolls South Carolina again to set up Kentucky matchup