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Tennessee-Kentucky Preview

Feb 13, 2010 - 12:23 AM By JEFFREY McMURRAY Associated Press Writer

Tennessee (18-5) at Kentucky (23-1), 9:00 p.m. EDT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- John Calipari knows all about facing Tennessee in a rivalry game.

When Calipari left Memphis before this season to become Kentucky's coach, one thing he didn't have to leave behind was important matchups against the Volunteers. Kentucky's players and fans note the games against Tennessee when the schedule comes out.

Calipari's rivalry with Vols coach Bruce Pearl is alive and well, with even higher stakes.

"We don't exchange birthday wishes or Christmas cards because we're rivals," Calipari said. "Do you know of any two coaches who are going at each other with two programs that are going to exchange pleasantries?"

Calipari and Pearl will be in the same arena again Saturday night when Kentucky hosts Tennessee in a nationally televised game with NCAA tournament implications.

Although still heated, some of the recent meetings in the series have lacked the rivalry's tradition sizzle - largely because of a run of subpar seasons by UK, the nation's winningest program. Under Pearl, Tennessee is the first program in the 76-year history of the Southeastern Conference to finish above Kentucky in the standings four straight seasons.

There is a lot to play for in this one, though. The third-ranked Wildcats (23-1, 8-1) are gunning for a top seed in the NCAA tournament while the No. 12 Vols (18-5, 6-3) are looking to add another signature win to their credentials, having already knocked off No. 1 Kansas.

Still, Pearl says the game is all the motivation his players need.

"I don't have to get these guys up to play Kentucky at Kentucky, you know what I mean?" Pearl said. "It speaks for itself. ... We understand the quality of the opponent. We understand the task at hand. It's going to take something special, but we're excited about it."

If the Vols needed any extra motivation, they got some during a visit by former NBA star Bernard King, who played at Tennessee from 1974-77.

"We don't lose to Kentucky," King told the team. "You hear me? We're not losing to Kentucky. I'm going to be there with you, and we're going to get it done."

Calipari said he always idolized King but chuckled at the prediction.

"If he were playing in this game, he's right," Calipari said. "We'd have no shot at this."

Kentucky, led by freshmen standouts John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, has had few misfires so far this season. Its lone loss came against South Carolina, and that followed a day of pageantry too - including a pregame phone call from President Barack Obama to congratulate the team on its efforts raising money for earthquake relief in Haiti.

Still, the players say the attention focused on Saturday's game should help, not hurt.

"I think that'll be motivation for us," Darius Miller said. "It'll help us to get focused. We know it's a big stage to be playing on, so I think we'll be ready."

The Volunteers have dealt with some off the field problems this year. Four Tennessee players were arrested when a gun and marijuana were found during a traffic stop, and the incident led to the dismissal of star forward Tyler Smith.

Another key player, Wayne Chism, injured his ankle during the team's loss at Vanderbilt and was in a walking boot at practice Thursday. Pearl thinks he will be able to go against UK.

Daniel Orton, one of Kentucky's big men who could match up against Chism, said the Wildcats are focused on getting better before the postseason.

"There isn't much season left," he said. "We'll probably never be on another team like this again with such great players, such great talent. We all get along so well, we're all just going to think back later in life and really just embrace what we have."