GAME NOTES: The third-ranked Tennessee Volunteers will attempt to remain unbeaten in SEC play as they take on the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington. Tennessee has won 11 straight decisions since its only loss of the season, a 19-point setback to a strong Texas team back in November. The Vols, who are 16-1 overall and 3-0 in league play, took a break from SEC action to knock off Ohio State by a 74-69 final on Saturday. With wins over the likes of Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Gonzaga and Xavier in the last month, Tennessee has proven worthy of its high national ranking. Billy Gillispie's first season as the Kentucky head coach has not gone nearly as well as expected. The Wildcats are just 7-9 overall, including 1-2 in SEC action. They have lost their last two games, including an 81-70 setback to two-time defending national champion Florida on Saturday. Kentucky owns a 139-64 series lead over Tennessee, and the teams split a pair of meetings last season.

Tennessee is scoring 85.6 ppg while limiting opponents to 68.2 ppg. The Vols have already forced 354 turnovers, 144 more than they have committed. JaJuan Smith continues to lead Tennessee in scoring with 14.8 ppg. As for Chris Lofton, who entered the season with huge expectations, his 13.4 ppg are overshadowed by his 34.5 percent shooting from the field. Tyler Smith is contributing 13.3 ppg, and JP Prince adds 10.9 ppg. JaJuan Smith led the way for Tennessee in the recent win over Ohio State, netting 15 points. Lofton tallied 13, while Tyler Smith and Ramar Smith added 12 points apiece. The Vols were outscored 17-8 from the foul line, but they only committed 10 turnovers and nailed eight three-pointers en route to victory.

Ramel Bradley has been the leading scorer for Kentucky in two straight games and in four of the last five overall. He has raised his scoring average to 16.1 ppg, and he is tops in both assists (51) and steals (27). Patrick Patterson, a standout freshman, continues to lead Kentucky with 16.6 ppg and 8.0 rpg, and he is shooting 58 percent from the floor. Joe Crawford checks in with 16.4 ppg, and those three players have been the driving force behind the team's 72.1 ppg. Bradley scored 23 points for Kentucky in the overtime loss at Florida on Saturday. Crawford had 16 points in that clash, and Patterson contributed 15 points. Unfortunately, the trio got little support from a rather weak supporting cast. The Wildcats finished 6-of-23 from three-point range and were outscored 28-16 from the foul line.

Kentucky will play hard at home tonight, but Tennessee is simply the better team and will win narrowly. Expect a balanced effort by the Vols, who have plenty of contributors on the roster.