Tennessee’s men’s basketball team, currently sitting at 17-7 and 7-4 in the SEC, will go head-to-head with the LSU Tigers this Saturday at Food City Center in Knoxville. Tip-off is at 5:00 PM CT (6:00 PM ET). The first 1,000 students will snag a unique “Dark Mode” shirt, thanks to Food City and Cheetos.
UT has had a solid track record against LSU lately, winning the last four matchups convincingly. Historically, the Volunteers have faced LSU many times, often with significant leads. In fact, over the last 19 meetings since March 2010, most games have been decided by double digits. The largest average margin of victory in this span is 13.6 points per game, showing the dominance Tennessee has had.
The Tigers, under head coach Matt McMahon from Tennessee, had a rough outing last season, finishing at 14-18. This year, they were placed 15th in the SEC preseason rankings. Junior guard Dedan Thomas Jr. is the standout player for LSU, averaging 15.3 points and 6.5 assists per game.
Looking at historical trends, Tennessee boasts a respectable 15-13 record on Valentine’s Day, and Rick Barnes, the head coach, is nearing a significant milestone—his 250th win with the Volunteers. Only a handful of coaches have achieved 250 wins at two different Division I schools, which reflects the strength of the program.
Recently, Nate Ament has really stepped up, scoring over 16 points in each of the last nine games and averaging a solid 22.2 points per game. Meanwhile, Bishop Boswell is making his mark on the boards, ranking ninth in the SEC with 6.7 rebounds per game. This explosiveness has contributed to UT’s impressive offensive rebounding percentage of 44.7%, ranking them first nationally, according to KenPom. This metric is on track to rank as one of the best in the last two decades of college basketball.
Over the past nine seasons, Tennessee has seen consistent success, leading all SEC programs with a .729 winning percentage. Their performance includes three SEC titles and a strong showing in recent NCAA tournaments, making them one of only three schools to reach the Sweet 16 in the last three years.
As for playmaking, Tennessee’s hustle is palpable. In recent games, multiple players have recorded five or more assists, indicating a well-rounded offensive flow, a sharp contrast to last season’s struggles in this area. This kind of teamwork contributes to their higher assists counts compared to the previous season.
The upcoming match against LSU promises to add another exciting chapter to the Volunteers’ season. Expect a mix of strategy, skilled play, and passionate fanfare as they aim to capitalize on their home advantage.
Source link
Featured,Food City Center,Knoxville TN,LSU,SEC,Southeastern Conference,Sports News,Tennessee,Tigers,UT,UT Basketball,UT Men’s Basketball,UT Vols,Vols,Volunteers
