by Paul Jordan
GAME 25 – 2/13/2010
RUPP ARENA, LEXINGTON, KY
9 PM TV- ESPN
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 18-5 (6-3)
KENTUCKY LEADS SERIES 141-65
RECENT MEETINGS:
2/21/2009: KENTUCKY 77 TENNESSEE 58
1/13/2009: KENTUCKY 90 TENNESSEE 72
3/2/2008: TENNESSEE 63 KENTUCKY 60
1/22/2008: KENTUCKY 72 TENNESSEE 66
2/13/2007: TENNESSEE 89 KENTUCKY 85
1/28/2007: KENTUCKY 76 TENNESSEE 57
Rivalry week has definitely found it’s way to Rupp Arena and I could not think of a better setting that the UK/Tennessee game tomorrow night. It is shaping up to be a battle of survival for the Volunteers: a loss will dump them three games behind UK in the SEC East. For Kentucky, it will mark a very good chance to resume their place a top the SEC. Tennessee has claimed three of the last four SEC East titles despite a recent 2-5 record against UK. In spit of the Vol’s recent league success, Kentucky has owned the series going 12-4. Let’s take a look at the Vols as they battle for survival.
THE STARTERS:
G – SCOTTY HOPSON – SO 6’7 200
13.1 ppg, 3.4 rebs. 1.3 assists
G – BOBBY MAZE – SR 6’3 195
8.8 ppg, 2.9 rebs, 3.1 assists
F – J.P. PRINCE – SR – 6’7 205
8.1 ppg, 3.5 rebs, 3.2 assists
G/F – RENALDO WOOLRIDGE – SO 6’8 208
4 ppg, 3.4 rebs, 0.4 assists
F/C – WAYNE CHISM – SR 6’9 246
13.1 ppg, 7 rebs, 1 assists
Scotty Hopson is the one that got away from Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie. After de-committing from Mississippi State, Hopson cast his lot with the Tennessee Vols instead of the homestate Wildcats. Hopson is quick and long, and could present matchup problems. Only a sophomore, Hopson has gotten more assertive and is especially elusive in getting to the rim. He has improved his 3 point shooting over last year from 35.7% to 40%. The downside? As good a shooter Hopson is, he is anemic from the line (58.5%) and has a horrible A/TO ratio (.60) and is a pretty average rebounder for a 6’7 guy. Bobby Maze has done of good job of becoming the Vols floor general with a 2.57 A/TO ratio. He is a pretty inconsistent scorer and a below average shot from outside hitting just 20.7% from beyond the arc and he endured a streak earlier this season when he did not hit a 3-pointer in nine out of 10 games. Maze is at his best as a PG against the better teams – against Purdue, Kansas and Vanderbilt, Maze had a total of 19 assist and 3 TO’s. Renaldo Woolridge is just getting his feet wet in the starting lineup for the Vols and at this point may be a better rebounder and role player than scorer. Woolridge had a nice game against Kansas (14 points, 8 boards) but has been in a funk lately and has seen his shooting percentage drop to .385. He is a decent 3-point shooter but is in a 1-15 slump over the last 8 games.
J.P Prince has been a “Tyler Smith light” since Smith was booted off the team. While not a huge scoring threat, Prince is a nice all around player with great length and ability to score in the paint. Prince is capable of the occasional scoring game as he has scored in double digits nine games. Prince is a pretty good ball handler and leads the Vols in steals. Wayne Chism is a bit undersized as a center and to be banging around with Cousins, yet that is the task that will probably fall to him. Chism has really stepped it up, the last four games, averaging 20.5 ppg and 9 rebounds over the past five games. For a big guy, Chism can score from all over the court and has hit 35.6 of his treys on the season. Chsim suffered an injury in the Vanderbilt game, but from all indications, he will be playing against UK.
G Cameron Tatum has seen both his production and playing time decrease since returning from suspension. He is averaging 7.2 points and 2.3 boards on the season but just 3.6 points and 2.0 boards since returning. Almost all his stats are way down as he has just 2 assists since returning. He is hitting 38.9% of his treys. G Melvin Goins is another of the suspended players, and is averaging 5.5 points, 2.2 boards, and 2.2 assists on the season. C Brian Williams brings his 6’10 frame and 5.5 ppg and 5.1 boards to this game, just off a 10 game suspension. Kinda ironic how that suspension ended in time for the Vanderbilt and Kentucky game, eh? Tennessee also has a couple of players that you will love to hate: G Skylar McBee and Daddy’s Boy F Stephen Pearl. McBee is averaging 4.6 points in 15.7 minutes a game and Pearl is good for 8.0 minutes and 1.4 points.
OUTLOOK
This could get ugly. There are reports that Scotty Hopson has been twittering that he is
“really sick” and is “on medicine” and as of right now, could be a “no go” for the Kentucky game. Hopson has locked his twitter account, so I never saw the text in question. So this could be the real deal … or a big Vol psych out. Either way, Calipari will be ready for Hopson to play.
On to the game …. the suspensions have hit Tennessee hard and even though most of the players are back, they are not nearly as effective as before. Williams played just two minutes against Vandy and has to be rusty. On a pure depth level, this is a game where UK should run the Vols out of the gym. As with a lot of teams in the SEC, Tennessee has two players that can give Kentucky fits in Hopson and Chism. Prince could be a factor, but UT just lacks the scorers. Unfortunately, UT does not have the bench to contend and if Hopson is not 100%, this can be ugly: KENTUCKY 85 TENNESSEE 70.
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