USA Today via Reuters
Jan 23, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi (25) passes the ball against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 23, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi (25) passes the ball against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball action will continue when the #18 ranked Missouri Tigers take on the fledgling Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky went from being a pre-season favorite to a total calamity. Meanwhile, the Tigers have steadily impressed and risen into the conversation of one of the top 20 teams in the country.
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The Tigers have a record of 11-3 this season. This includes wins over the Tennessee Volunteers (a loss to them as well) and the Illinois Fighting Illini. They are coming off a win over the TCU Horned Frogs.
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â Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 2, 2021
The Kentucky Wildcats have an atrocious record of 5-10 this season. Their last game ended up in a loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, but they had picked up a massive win over the LSU Tigers prior to that. However, this team just doesnât look good this season.
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Who comes out of this with a win?
NCAA Basketball: No respite for Kentucky?
The Wildcats should go into this game with tempered expectations. They havenât shown any reason why they could beat a team like the Tigers this season. The Wildcats genuinely look out of contention for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, a tournament they last missed in 1989. The team looks disjointed on the court, as the freshmen core hasnât coalesced like it usually does for Kentucky.
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Jan 5, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Dontaie Allen (11) blocks a 3-pointer by Vanderbilt Commodores guard Maxwell Evans (3) during the second half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Arden Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers have beaten Kentucky only once in their history, and that win came in 2018. By all looks of it, they should be expected to add another win to that barebones record. However, if they can employ a tight-knit defense on the night, there is a high chance they can slip out with a surprise win.
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The starters for the Wildcats will be Keion Brooks, Olivier Sarr, Brandon Boston, Devin Askew, and Davion Mintz. Meanwhile, the Tigers will take the floor with their lineup of Dru Smith, Xavier Pinson, Jeremiah Tilmon, Kobe Brown, and Javon Pickett.
We are going to stick with the Tigers for this one. Kentucky has been bad against good teams, so how can we pick them to beat a team rising up the AP Poll? The Tigers have a lot more going for them in terms of momentum this season and should be expected to take this win.
