No. 11 Tennessee returns to Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday night looking to bounce out of its recent rough stretch against South Carolina.
The Vols are losers of four of their last five and have lost consecutive road games against Kentucky and Texas A&M.
South Carolina is struggling in Lamont Paris’ first season and finds itself in 12th place in the SEC standings, a game ahead of LSU and Ole Miss. However, South Carolina has won two of its last four and took No. 2 Alabama to overtime Wednesday night.
Here’s everything you need to know about the SEC matchup.
More From RTI: Injured Vols Expected To Return Against South Carolina
How to Watch – No. 11 Tennessee (20-8, 9-6 SEC) vs South Carolina (10-18, 3-12 SEC)
- Start Time: 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena
- TV: SEC Network. PxP: Kevin Fitzgerald, CC: Jimmy Dykes
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Team Statistics (via ESPN)
What Tennessee Coach Rick Barnes Said About The Gamecocks
On what’s different about South Carolina now
“I think they have changed in terms of they’ve really settled into a lineup. I think back when we played them early, they were searching like I think all teams are that time of year and trying to figure out who they are and how they want to play. Again, I think they’ve done a terrific job of getting better each each and every game. They’ve settled in with the players they’ve gotten and we saw what they did the other night. They had the No. 2 team in the country on the ropes with a chance to win it. That speaks volumes about their players and their coaching staff.”
On South Carolina losing an overtime game before this one
“I think you have to give South Carolina great credit. They fought hard, I said it when I first started, it’s a real compliment to their players and their coaching staff that they fought hard every game, and they haven’t won, certainly, as many games— we all want to win them all— but the fact that they were willing to fight the way they fought and they have fought. They’ve fought all year long. I can’t tell you when they didn’t. Like all of us, early in the year when the coaching staff is putting together a team and program, a lot of things being put in place and the fact that this late in the year where they’ve been for them to go fight like they fought. They’ll come in here, again, they had a great win at LSU. I think they made 15 threes so they’re going to go play. This time of year, players play and they have a coaching staff that knows they’re building not only for the game tomorrow but for a SEC Tournament. There’s a bid out there to be had by, it doesn’t matter who it is, and like I said it’s been shown teams can come out of nowhere to do that. Everybody has something to play for and certainly South Carolina did the other night and they’ll continue to do that.”
Betting Lines
- Spread: Tennessee -23.5 (-110), South Carolina +23.5 (-110)
- Total: Over/Under 129.5
