Kentucky Hosts Tennessee in Denim Uniform Reunion

Wildcats look to sweep Volunteers, honor 1996 national champions

Feb. 7, 2026 at 2:31pm

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It's a big night in Lexington as Kentucky hosts rival Tennessee in a rematch of their earlier meeting, which the Wildcats won 80-78 after a big second-half comeback. The Wildcats will be wearing their iconic denim uniforms from 1996 and honoring that championship team in person for the 30th anniversary inside Rupp Arena.

Why it matters

This game carries major SEC and NCAA Tournament implications, as both teams are playing well heading into the matchup. Kentucky is looking to complete the regular season sweep of Tennessee, while the Volunteers are seeking revenge for their earlier collapse. The return of the denim uniforms and reunion of the 1996 title team add an extra layer of excitement and nostalgia to the proceedings.

The details

Kentucky rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to beat Tennessee 80-78 in their previous meeting on January 17th. Denzel Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 22 points, while Otega Oweh, Collin Chandler, and Jasper Johnson also scored in double figures. Tennessee had won four straight games before that loss, and they've continued to play well since then, picking up three more Quad 1 wins.

  • The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on February 7, 2026.
  • The 1996 Kentucky national championship team will be honored at Rupp Arena during the game.

The players

Denzel Aberdeen

A senior guard for Kentucky who scored 22 points in the previous matchup against Tennessee.

Otega Oweh

A senior guard for Kentucky who is averaging 17.0 points per game this season.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

A senior guard for Tennessee who is averaging 18.6 points and 5.4 assists per game.

Nate Ament

A freshman forward for Tennessee who is averaging 17.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Mark Pope

The head coach of Kentucky, who played on the 1996 national championship team and is now coaching the Wildcats in the denim uniforms.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't fall in love with the team because of the denim. We fell in love with the denim because of the experience that we all got to share together. That's actually what gives it its life. That's special.”

— Mark Pope, Kentucky Head Coach

“Congrats to our 96 team. You will always be the greatest! So proud of each of you. Love you Guys ❤️”

— Rick Pitino

What’s next

The winner of this game will have a significant advantage in the SEC standings and NCAA Tournament seeding. The loser will need to regroup quickly, as both teams have tough schedules ahead.

The takeaway

This game has all the makings of a classic SEC rivalry matchup, with the added intrigue of Kentucky's iconic denim uniforms and the reunion of the 1996 national championship team. The Wildcats are looking to complete the season sweep, while Tennessee is seeking revenge for their earlier collapse. Whichever team can channel the energy and nostalgia of the night into a winning performance will have a major boost heading into the final stretch of the season.