Having put behind them lost opportunities, more specifically Saturday's release of Florida after Kentucky had the Gators on the rope late in the game, the Wildcats look to make the most of opportunities tonight in Knoxville against the Tennessee Volunteers in sea of orange and white in Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols seem to be gearing up for a big night by pulling out all the stops. Mike Cameron reported earlier the unicycle will be out, and God only knows what else might surface, possibly a dog and pony show. Who knows? Bruce Pearl, clad in his orange blazer, does.
Local authorities are urging Tennessee fans to declare an orange out by wearing all orange to the game. Halftime ceremonies include the retiring of the jersey of Bernard King. Who might be King and his significance at this time?
King, a Vol alum from 1974-1977, played for Tennessee when the boys in orange beat the boys in blue five consecutive times. A feat not repeated until this past week when the disliked, alright in the nation of blue its hated, Gators. You can't help but believe this is nothing more than timely advertising by Pearl as he tries to pump up the citizens of Knox County in sticking it just a little bit deeper into Kentucky's ribs.
Pearl has the crowd on his side. It's well documented how he stripped chest naked and pounded his pectorals in the student body, of all things rooting for the Lady Vols. You can call it Orange Favor, but I think Pearl is lost in obscurity trying desperately to find identity for the men's team. After all, Football in Knoxville takes precedence and Pearl is resting in third place behind Pat Summit and her Lady Vol legacy. Is not the floor the men play on called Summit Floor?
Pearl in his wiley ways understands packing Thompson-Boling with the Tennessee faithful, the women's fan base, the legacy of King's play and the short-lived dominance over UK in the middle 70's, stirs the spirit of all tonight's contest. Pearl is looking for a big upset. Expect the house to be rocking. Similar to Saturday's Rupp Arena, only the fans will be sweating Kentucky dead.
\n\nWhen I look for proof Kentucky will win, I look at stats. In my profession, on the average people do the same thing over and over. Once you learn a persons habits, profiles, you know what to expect.\n\nTennessee is 13-0 at home this year. Five of those wins were SEC wins. On the road Tennessee is 0-5 in the SEC. Kentucky is 3-1 on the road in the SEC. For me I have to look closer than this.\n\nUK scores on average 73.2 ppg. UT allows 74.44 ppg. It would be safe to say Kentucky will score around 74 points tonight. The Vols score on average 80.8 ppg, but, the all important but, is the Wildcats only allow 64.9 ppg. That is a 16 point difference swing into Kentucky's favor. I'll split the difference and say UT will score 72. Final score, a close one 74-72 Wildcats win.\n\nThe only other factor left decided in the this storied 203rd meeting. The Chris Lofton factor. Recovered from his injury, Lofton scored eight points against LSU and then 16 against Vanderbilt. If Lofton averages his 20 UK wins. If Lofton breaks out big in front of the Orange faithful, it could get even more interesting.\n\nEither way it should be a shootout tonight in Knoxville.\n\n\nSigning off from Richmond, \n\nGlen\n\n \n\n\n\n\n",0]
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When I look for proof Kentucky will win, I look at stats. In my profession, on the average people do the same thing over and over. Once you learn a persons habits, profiles, you know what to expect.
Tennessee is 13-0 at home this year. Five of those wins were SEC wins. On the road Tennessee is 0-5 in the SEC. Kentucky is 3-1 on the road in the SEC. For me I have to look closer than this.
UK scores on average 73.2 ppg. UT allows 74.44 ppg. It would be safe to say Kentucky will score around 74 points tonight. The Vols score on average 80.8 ppg, but, the all important but, is the Wildcats only allow 64.9 ppg. That is a 16 point difference swing into Kentucky's favor. I'll split the difference and say UT will score 72. Final score, a close one 74-72 Wildcats win.
The only other factor left decided in the this storied 203rd meeting. The Chris Lofton factor. Recovered from his injury, Lofton scored eight points against LSU and then 16 against Vanderbilt. If Lofton averages his 20 UK wins. If Lofton breaks out big in front of the Orange faithful, it could get even more interesting.
Either way it should be a shootout tonight in Knoxville.
Signing off from Richmond,
Glen