Kentucky basketball fans are ball-knowers. We can be honest with one another about our Wildcats without getting out the torches and pitchforks, so please, keep your lighters far away from your torches when I state the following.

The Kentucky Wildcats are transitioning into a new era under Mark Pope. Even so, they’re still a blue-collar program, and, as such, they’re expected to compete at the highest level. That’s why it’s been so frustrating to watch them get off to slow starts and dig themselves into big holes to start games.

There’s more at stake in Tuesday night’s Kentucky-Tennessee basketball game than simply a win against an SEC rival.