Preview: Tigers and Volunteers in Knoxville

Take a break from the Mardi Gras and tell your Valentine Cupid can wait because there is a big basketball game to watch at 3:00 on the SEC Network.

Johnny Jones' Krewe returns to the hardwood Saturday afternoon following a dramatic performance Tuesday night. The Tigers hosted the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats in front of a sellout crowd at the PMAC and another national television audience. The game came down to a missed three pointer off the hands of Keith Hornsby as LSU fell victim 71-69. If there is such a thing as a moral victory, this game was it mainly because it got people talking about the program.

Now the program turns the page and looks to bounce back on its feet against a Tennessee Volunteer team lacking in interior size. The tale of the tape features Jordan Mickey at 6-feet 8-inches and Jarrell Martin at 6-feet 10-inches. The Voles counter with veterans Derek Reese at 6-feet 7-inches and Armani Moore at 6-feet 4-inches. The Vols may lack in size, but they make it up with ability especially off the boards. Reese collected eight rebounds in an overtime win at Vanderbilt Wednesday night. Moore has double-digit rebounding games six times this season including games against Marquette and Auburn with 13.

The teams are both 6-5 in league play this, but a deeper look at the record shows them trending in opposite directions. LSU is 5-2 away from home, and Tennessee has yet to win at home this month. Tiger fans back home hope the trend continues because their team is still alive for a berth in the NCAA tournament.