Players to watch, keys to the game Saturday night for Kentucky vs. Tennessee

Round two. If round one between Kentucky and Tennessee, three weeks ago, was any indication, the second meeting between these two teams Saturday night in Rupp Arena is going to be another barn-burner.

On a night where the 1996 National Championship team will be honored, and Kentucky rocks the denim uniforms, there is going to be an ultra-physical game that unfolds on the court. The changes that Kentucky has made to the way they practice could show themselves in this game.

Tennessee has won four in a row since Kentucky won in Knoxville on January 17th, with wins over Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, and Ole Miss. This team is really good, and they will present a challenge, once again, for Kentucky Saturday night.

Let’s look at Tennessee, players to watch, keys to the game, and score prediction.

Players to Watch on Tennessee

1. No. 0: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 6-1, 188 lbs. Sr. Guard; GREENVILLE, Tenn. (Maryland Transfer)
Stats: 18.6 pts, 2.9 rebs, 119 ast.-55 TO, 36 stl, 42% FG, 35.8 3-PT FG%, 81.4 FT%, 33.5 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 24 pts (6-12 FG, 4-7 3-PT), 8-12 FT, 8 ast.-4 TO, 2 stl, 2 rebs, 32 mins

Gillespie was a star in the first game between these two teams. He led all players in the game in points and assists. Since then, he has three games with 20+ points. Expect him to show up and ready to rock Saturday night.

Kentucky was in the running for Gillespie last Spring when he was in the transfer portal. At Maryland in 2024-2025, Gillespie became one of three Big Ten players in the last 35 seasons (1990-2025) to average at least 14.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting at least 40.0 percent from 3-point range, following Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell (2014-15) and Wisconsin’s Tracy Webster (1991-92).

In addition, Gillespie was one of five Power Five players to average at least 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game—the others are Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn, Pittsburgh’s Jaland Lowe (now with Kentucky), West Virginia’s Javon Small and Purdue’s Braden Smith—and the only Division I player to post that line while shooting at least 40.0 percent from long range.

2. No. 10: Nate Ament — 6-10, 207 lbs. Fr. Forward; MANASSAS, Va. (Highland School)
Stats: 17.1 pts, 6.4 rebs, 41.8 FG%, 31.1 3-PT FG%, 76.5 FT%, 29.7 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 17 pts (4-7 FG, 1-2 3-PT), 8-9 FT, 5 rebs, 2 ast.-1 TO, 2 stl, 36 mins

Ament has been on a tear since the first meeting between Kentucky and Tennessee. Keep in mind, he’s just a Freshman. He’s had two games with over 25 points in Tennessee’s four-game winning streak, including 28 points Tuesday against Ole Miss. More impressive, Ament’s performance against Alabama two weeks ago made him the first Division I freshman since Chase Budinger on 2/10/07 with 29 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on the road against a ranked team.

The 13th McDonald’s All-American in program history, Ament was unanimously considered a five-star prospect, a top-four overall recruit in the class, and the best player in Virginia. In addition, Ament was tabbed the second-best player in the country by On3, as well as the fourth-best player by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals.

3. No. 13: J.P. Estrella — 6-11, 240 lbs. R-So. Forward; SCARBOROUGH, Maine
Stats: 9.2 pts, 4.8 rebs, 63.7 FG%, 3-8 3-PT FG, 64.7 FT%, 15.9 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 4 pts (2-2 FG), 2 rebs, 1 ast.-1 TO, 1 stl, 10 mins

Estrella is a tall, strong player. He owns a max reverse band back squat of 510 pounds, a 7-1.75 wingspan, and 9-3 standing reach, plus dropped 10 pounds and reduced his body fat by 5.2 percent in the offseason prior to his redshirt sophomore campaign. That tells you the kind of player he is. 

Since the first meeting between the Cats and Vols, Estrella has been a force on the glass. He has three games with five+ rebounds in Tennessee’s last four, including two games with nine. Not to mention, Estrella has 14 offensive rebounds in Tennessee’s four-game winning streak.

J.P.’s mother, then Allie Booth, played basketball at Boston College from 1995-99, after claiming the Maine Miss Basketball distinction in 1995. Her career ended in Knoxville on March 15, 1999, when the eighth-seeded Eagles fell to the top-seeded Lady Volunteers, the three-time reigning national champions, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, with Allie unable to play due to knee injuries that kept her out the entire season. But she still had a decorated career.

4. No. 23: Jaylen Carey — 6-8, 267 lbs. Jr. Forward; SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. (Vanderbilt Transfer)
Stats: 8.4 pts, 6.2 rebs, 49.3 FG%, 0-5 3-PT FG, 53.6 FT%, 18.5 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 6 pts (3-12 FG), 7 rebs (6 off.), 3 ast.-1 TO, 21 mins

Carey moved east on I-40 from Vanderbilt to Tennessee this offseason, and he is having a really good first season in Knoxville.

A physical force, Carey has five+ rebounds in five of Tennessee’s last six games. Most important to note, though, is the fact that Carey is an enforcer, bringing the toughness and tenacity that makes Tennessee potent.

At Vanderbilt last year, Mark Byington’s first season in Nashville, which culminated with an NCAA Tournament berth, Carey excelled in SEC play, leading the league in total offensive rebounds (57), as well as ranking second in offensive rebounding average (3.2) and No. 16 in total rebounding average (6.2).

The prior season at James Madison, he was one of 18 players—just two were freshmen—in Division I to shoot at least 65.0 percent from the field on 150-plus attempts, finishing No. 11 among that group.

Carey comes from an athletic family. His older brother, Vernon Carey Jr., was a 2019-20 All-American and the consensus national freshman of the year at Duke. He was selected No. 32 in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, and he played 37 NBA games over three seasons (2020-23) before continuing his career overseas.

In addition, his father, Vernon Carey Sr.,  was a national champion (2001) and All-American (2003) offensive lineman at Miami before going No. 19 in the 2004 NFL Draft to the Miami Dolphins, for whom he started 107 games over an eight-year NFL career (2004-11) and was on their 2008 AFC East-winning team.

5. No. 34: Felix Okpara — 6-11, 243 lbs. Sr. Forward; LAGOS, Nigeria (Ohio State Transfer)
Stats: 6.8 pts, 5.9 rebs, 31 blk, 54.2 FG%, 4-9 3-PT FG, 62.2 FT%, 26.5 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 5 pts (2-3 FG), 1-2 FT, 6 rebs, 1 blk, 26 mins

Okpara is a beast inside, adding eight pounds in the offseason before his senior year, has a max reverse band back squat of 530 pounds, a plus-4 wingspan differential (7-3), and a team-best 9-4 standing reach, plus generates 1,626 pounds of vertical force in his isometric belt test.

While questionable for Saturday night, Okpara has to be accounted for in the game plan as if he is playing. He’s missed the last two games, coming after a game where he had 11 rebounds, including seven offensive, in an overtime win at Georgia.

Last season, Okpara tied for the fourth-most blocks (64) in a single season by a Volunteer, as well as placed No. 11 in offensive rebounds (93), No. 12 in blocks per game (1.68), and No. 19 in offensive rebounding average (2.45).

Born in Nigeria, Okpara moved to the United States in August 2018 and settled in Chattanooga, Tenn. He is the third player from Nigeria to play for Tennessee. 

6. No. 3: Bishop Boswell — 6-4, 204 lbs. So. Guard; CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Stats: 6.7 pts, 5.1 rebs, 55.1 FG%, 56.3 3-PT FG%, 63% FT, 25.6 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 4 pts (1-3 FG, 1-2 3-PT), 1-3 FT, 3 rebs, 1 ast.-2 TO, 26 mins

Boswell does a little bit of everything, and that’s been prominent in Tennessee’s four-game winning streak. He had a double-double at Georgia, seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win against Auburn, and 10 points and eight rebounds in a win against Ole Miss Tuesday.

Boswell went to the same high school as New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. He comes from the same hometown as six former Tennessee players, including one-and-done first-round pick Jaden Springer (2020-21), SEC Player of the Year honoree Tony White (1983-87), and two-time SEC Player of the Year designee Grant Williams (2016-19).

7. No. 6: DeWayne Brown II — 6-8, 251 lbs. Fr. Forward; HOOVER, Ala. (Hoover HS)
Stats: 5.6 pts, 3.8 rebs, 63.4 FG%, 63.6 FT%, 15.7 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 7 pts (3-4 FG), 1-2 FT, 2 rebs, 2 ast.-1 TO, 2 blk, 1 stl, 19 mins

Brown made the start against Auburn last Saturday, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, a career-high four assists, a career-best two steals, and one block in a career-high 33 minutes.

In high school, Brown’s teams went 117-17, including notching a 96-7 ledger over his final three campaigns, while totaling over 1,800 points, 1,100 rebounds, and 300 blocks. He was named the Gatorade Alabama State Player of the Year, Alabama Mr. Basketball, and the MaxPreps Alabama State Player of the Year, the first basketball player from his school to win those awards, as well as the Starnes Media All-South Metro Co-Player of the Year.

Brown went to the same high school as several notable sports and entertainment people, including former MLB pitcher “The Cowboy” Jeff Brantley, “The Bachelor” Season 23 finalist Hannah Godwin, 2006 “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks, NFL wide receiver George Pickens, NFL placekicker Will Reichard, former WNBA player Sidney Spencer (Tennessee alumna), and 1995 Miss America winner Heather Whitestone.

8. No. 77: Amaree Abram — 6-5, 220 lbs. Sr. Guard; PITTSBURGH (Louisiana Tech Transfer)
Stats: 3.8 pts, 1.6 rebs, 40% FG, 36.8 3-PT FG%, 13-16 FT, 12 mpg
Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky: 3 pts (1-2 FG, 1-2 3-PT FG), 1 reb., 1 TO, 5 mins

At Louisiana Tech last season, Abram led the team in made 3-pointers (66) and free-throw percentage (min. 1 FTA/gm), as well as placed second in scoring, steals, minutes, made field goals (145), and 3-point percentage (min. 10 3PA).

Abram is from the same high school as former All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles and former tight end Kevin Everett. His second cousin, J’Covan Brown, scored 1,376 points under Rick Barnes over three years at Texas from 2009-12 before beginning a successful professional career overseas.

Head Coach: Rick Barnes (11th Season, 248-115; 39th Season Overall, 852-429)

With a 12-13 record against Kentucky in 24 games as the head coach at Tennessee, Rick Barnes is, arguably, the most underrated head coach in college basketball today. His track record of turning the tide in several programs and producing high-end talent who have gone on to play in the NBA is impressive.

The Volunteers have been to the Elite Eight in each of the last two seasons, and they have been to the Sweet 16 four times in Barnes’s first 10 seasons. In addition, the Volunteers have won two SEC regular-season titles and won the SEC Tournament in 2022. Barnes was the SEC Coach of the Year in 2018. Barnes has coached 10 NBA Draft picks at Tennessee, all since 2019.

Barnes most notably led Texas for 17 seasons prior to arriving in Rocky Top. The Longhorns reached the Final Four in 2003, with three Elite Eight appearances and five Sweet 16s. In addition, the Longhorns won three Big 12 regular-season titles and four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards. Barnes also coached 17 NBA Draft picks, including 11 first-rounders, most notably 2007 National Player of the Year Kevin Durant. He signed 15 McDonald’s All-Americans in 17 seasons at Texas.

Prior to Texas, Barnes led Clemson for four seasons. The Tigers reached the Sweet 16 in 1997, a season when they were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country.

Even before Clemson, Barnes was changing the tide of mid-major programs. At Providence for six seasons, the Friars made three NCAA Tournament appearances and won the 1994 Big East Tournament. Barnes’s first season as head coach was at George Mason in 1987-88, when the Patriots won 20 games, and Barnes was named CAA Coach of the Year.

Keys to the Game

1. Rebounding

This will decide the game Saturday night. There’s no question about it. Tennessee is elite at rebounding, pulling down 43 boards per game and holding opponents to just 30 per game.

Kentucky lost the rebounding battle 36-29 in the first game. However, they were terrific on the boards in the second half, out-rebounding Tennessee 17-16 and 13-2 on the offensive glass.

That kind of effort will win this game in Rupp Arena. If Kentucky shows up on the glass, they will win this game.

2. Getting off to a good start

It would be nice for Kentucky not to fall behind by 17 points Saturday night. Imagine if this team comes out in the denim uniforms and punches Tennessee in the mouth right out of the gate? Getting off to a good start is paramount against a Tennessee team that can put the hammer down on the boards and from three-point range.

3. Transition offense

Tennessee doesn’t like to play fast. Kentucky thrives in transition. That makes transition offense a huge key to the game Saturday.

4. Three-point shooting

Kentucky was 11-24 from three-point range against Tennessee three weeks ago. Collin Chandler hit four threes, and three-point shooting enabled Kentucky to stay within striking distance throughout the game. Making some shots early will have Rupp Arena ready to explode Saturday night.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 82, Tennessee 80

This is going to be a tremendous game. I mentioned rebounding as a key to the game. One player to watch for on the glass for Kentucky is Trent Noah. He has been terrific on the glass recently, and last year against Tennessee in Rupp Arena, he had 11 points and three three-pointers as Kentucky pulled out a 75-65 win.

Saturday night, I’m predicting Noah to have an offensive rebound and assist to Otega Oweh, who will nail a mid-range jumper to give Kentucky a thrilling 82-80 win.