Kentucky can’t get bigger. ‘We’ve got to be tougher.’ Tennessee is next.

The University of Kentucky’s first swim in the shark-infested waters of the Southeastern Conference was not fatal but left a lot of bite marks.

The one positive to come out of the No. 13 Wildcats’ 99-72 loss at No. 4 South Carolina on Thursday night was the fact Kentucky will have 15 more chances prove its league opener was just a bad night.

The first of those chances comes Sunday when Kentucky (11-2, 0-1 SEC) hosts No. 22 Tennessee (11-2, 1-0) in Memorial Coliseum.

How bad did things go in the Cats’ league opener?

“Just fundamentally unsound in every phase of the game,” Coach Matthew Mitchell said Friday. “We did not do one thing that we were supposed to do, and that all falls on me for not having the team ready to go. It’s real disappointing, and we will work hard like heck for that not to happen again.”

The Volunteers, who defeated visiting Missouri 77-66 on Thursday night, are on a three-game winning streak for first-year head coach Kellie Harper.

Tennessee presents one of the same problems that plagued Kentucky against South Carolina: size.

“They’re both real similar as far as very talented and very big, and we’re not very big,” Mitchell said. “So, we’ve got to fight like crazy.”

Only one player on the Vols’ roster stands below 6 feet tall. The starting lineup goes 6-5, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and 6-0. Kentucky’s goes 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, 5-10 and 5-6.

“Tennessee probably has a little more size in some spots than South Carolina,” the UK coach said. “They really hurt us with that (Thursday night). So, we’ve got to be tougher earlier in possessions and that’s what we’ll have to do Sunday, I’m sure.”

The Wildcats were outrebounded 40-20 at South Carolina and now face the nation’s top rebounding team statistically. Tennessee outrebounds its opponents by a nation-leading average of 16.6 boards per game. The Vols lead the SEC in rebounds per game at 51.5.

Tennessee’s two defeats this season came at No. 5 Stanford (78-51 on Dec. 18) and at home against No. 25 Texas (66-60 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Dec. 8).

Junior forward Rennia Davis leads the Volunteers in scoring (16.7 points per game) and rebounding (9.0). Sophomore guard Rae Burrell averages 10.5 and 6.2. Freshman guard Jordan Horston (10.5) and 6-5 freshman center Tamari Key (10.2) are also double-figure scorers.

Mitchell understands the full weight of Sunday’s assignment.

“If we don’t play our guts out every night in this league, we’re going to have a hard time,” he said. “We’ve got to come out and play like our hair is on fire. … Tennessee is, I’m sure, a real talented team. But we’ve got to get the focus on Kentucky right now.”

Cole suspended

Senior center Nae Nae Cole has been suspended for three games, Mitchell announced Saturday.

Cole, who served the first game of her suspension at South Carolina, will return Jan. 12 when the Wildcats play at Florida. The transfer from North Carolina State has played in six games this season averaging 8.5 minutes and 2.7 points per game.

Mitchell said the suspension was for not upholding the standards of the program.

Sunday

No. 22 Tennessee at No. 13 Kentucky

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Memorial Coliseum

TV: ESPN2

Radio: WLAP-AM 630

Records: Tennessee 11-2 (1-0 SEC), Kentucky 11-2 (0-1)

Series: Tennessee leads 55-12

Last meeting: Kentucky won 73-71 on Jan. 10, 2019, in Knoxville

This story was originally published January 4, 2020 at 8:47 AM.