KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Volunteers are set to take on their in-state rivals, the Vanderbilt Commodores, in a highly anticipated SEC basketball matchup.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 PM ET on Saturday, February 17th, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Volunteers, led by head coach Rick Barnes, come into the game with a 17-6 overall record and a 7-3 mark in SEC play. They are currently ranked 15th in the latest AP Top 25 poll and are looking to bounce back from a tough 63-58 loss to Kentucky on Tuesday night.
The Commodores, led by head coach Jerry Stackhouse, enter the game with a 13-10 overall record and a 5-5 mark in SEC play. They are looking to build on their 61-55 win over Ole Miss on Wednesday night and pull off a major upset over their in-state rivals.
“Vanderbilt is a much-improved team from last year,” said Barnes. “They have a lot of talent and are playing with a lot of confidence. We’ll need to be at our best to come out on top.”
The Volunteers are led by senior guard Santiago Vescovi, who is averaging 13.4 points per game. They also have a strong presence in the paint with junior forward Olivier Nkamhoua, who is averaging 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
The Commodores are led by senior guard Tyrin Lawrence, who is averaging 12.8 points per game. They also have a strong presence in the paint with junior forward Quentin Millora-Brown, who is averaging 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
” Tennessee is a very talented team with a lot of depth,” said Stackhouse. “We’ll need to be able to match their intensity and physicality if we want to come out on top.”
The game is expected to be a closely contested matchup, with both teams looking to assert their dominance in the SEC. The Volunteers are favored by 5.5 points, but the Commodores are looking to pull off a major upset and prove themselves as a legitimate contender in the conference.
“We’re excited to play against our in-state rivals,” said Vescovi. “We know it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re confident in our abilities and are looking forward to the challenge.”
The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 PM ET. Fans can also follow the action on the Tennessee Athletics website, as well as on social media using the hashtag #VolsBasketball.
Prediction: Tennessee 72, Vanderbilt 65
The Volunteers are expected to come out on top in this matchup, but the Commodores will give them a run for their money. Vanderbilt’s Tyrin Lawrence will have a big game, scoring 20 points and dishing out 5 assists. However, Tennessee’s depth and athleticism will ultimately prove to be too much for the Commodores, as the Volunteers pull away in the second half for a 7-point victory.
Stat Leaders:
Tennessee:
– Santiago Vescovi: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
– Olivier Nkamhoua: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks
– Zakai Zeigler: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Vanderbilt:
– Tyrin Lawrence: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
– Quentin Millora-Brown: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
– Jordan Wright: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
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