[ad_1]

No. 5 Tennessee (14-2, 4-0 SEC) will host Kentucky (10-6, 1-3 SEC) at Thompson Bowling Arena on Saturday.

Tipoff is scheduled for noon EST. ESPN will air the Southeastern Conference games.

buy volunteer tickets

Photo: Chris Lofton’s career in Tennessee

Tennessee plans to retire Chris Lofton’s No. 5 jersey on Saturday.

Lofton played for the Vols from 2004-2008. He was a three-time All-American and his 2007 He won the SEC Player of the Year award.

He is the fifth men’s basketball player in Tennessee to retire his number. Lofton joins Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Dale Ellis and Alan Huston.

Ahead of the Tennessee vs. Kentucky contest, Vols Wire will take a look at pre-match social media buzz. Here are some social media buzz before the game.

Simply put, “Chris Lofton was one of the greatest players in Tennessee basketball history and it was an absolute honor and privilege to coach him. Excited to be hanging in the rafters of Thompson Bowling Arena.” pic.twitter.com/c8s0vmsxeh

— Steve Forbes (@ForbesWakeHoops) January 13, 2023

Tennessee opened as the 14-point favorite against Kentucky in the DraftKings, marking the second time the Vols were double-digit favorites against the UK.

other? On March 2, 2008, Chris Lofton’s penultimate home at his game. His jersey will be retired tomorrow.

— Blake von Hagen (@blake_vonhagen) January 13, 2023

Chris Lofton will retire his number tomorrow when UT takes on Great Britain. CLo, you are the best shooter I have ever coached and you deserve to be on par with Bernard King, Ernie Glanfield, Dale Ellis and Alan Houston.In honor of you I had to wear my SEC championship ring tonight pic.twitter.com/PCFMDVVFJn

— Tony Jones (@TJonesLive) January 14, 2023

It was an honor to be told@crofton606Brave and selfless story of. After nearly 15 years, it’s inspiring to have so many people out there, including myself, to see his number 5.@Vol_HoopsA jersey raised to the rafters. https://t.co/wjS6nLeavt

— Chris Lowe (@ClowESPN) January 13, 2023

salute last night @crofton606 It was one of my favorite moments in Knoxville.

Chris Lofton deserves the best, so we had to step up and put together an event to celebrate all he’s accomplished and who he is.

— Mark Pancratz (@MarkPancratz) January 14, 2023

“You guys need to go to Maysville tonight.”

Chris Lofton’s flamboyant Tennessee career began with a confusingly quiet recruitment.

About the beginning of UT and Lofton’s unity, the call from the VFL that accelerated it, and my father’s prophetic promise. https://t.co/S90gASbt8n

— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) January 13, 2023

“The best four years of my life were at the University of Tennessee.”

Chris Lofton is thrilled to retire the jersey on Saturday when Tennessee plays Kentucky.

The story airs on Fridays at 6pm @wbir pic.twitter.com/wJ52cN8rI4

— Karthik Venkataraman (@KarthikV_) January 13, 2023

From 2004 to 2008, Chris Lofton lit up the scoreboards in every arena he set foot in, carving his way as the best shooter. @Vol_Hoops history. Now that his jersey numbers have been discontinued, let’s take a look at all the jerseys he’s worn during his UT career. pic.twitter.com/8LiSOnQmIs

— Chad Fields (Vols Uniform Boy) (@CfieldsVFL) January 13, 2023

How about a mid-week giveaway in honor of @Vol_Hoops Chris Lofton’s jersey retired this weekend 🏀

🟠 Follow @Vol_Gear
🟠 Like this post!
🟠 Tag your friends
🟠 Retweet for additional entries

Giveaways close at noon ET on Saturday, January 14th. pic.twitter.com/BUYDnmSFzI

— Tennessee Gear (@Vol_Gear) January 11, 2023

“But basketball aside, who he is and what he stands for… he’s a great guy.

“And more than that. The way he loves the show. I don’t know a time when I don’t love him the way he loves this place.” — Rick Burns

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 12, 2023