Tennessee basketball returns to Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Wednesday evening to face Florida.
The Vols are coming off a 1-1 week on the road that saw them lose to Mississippi State and defeat Georgia. Florida is coming off an up-and-down week, giving up triple digits in a loss at Ole Miss before blowing out Arkansas at home.
The inclement weather in Knoxville moved the game up two hours and will likely lead to a smaller crowd. More on that and everything else to know about the matchup.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Basketball Ranks In The Jan. 15 AP Poll
How to Watch – No. 6 Tennessee (12-4, 2-1 SEC) vs. Florida (11-5, 1-2 SEC)
- Start Time: 5 p.m. ET/4 a.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- TV: ESPN2. PxP: Karl Ravech. CC: Jimmy Dykes. Sideline: Marty Smith
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
- Tennessee -9.5 Florida
- Over/under: 159.5
- Tennessee -10 Florida
- Over/under: 160
What AHC Justin Gainey Said About Georgia
On preparing for a Florida team that attacks the basket after playing a heavy three-point shooting team
“I mean it’ll be different for sure. They want to get downhill, they want to get to the basket, they want to get to the free throw line. And so we just got to be ready to make that adjustment and all through preseason and non-conference games, we faced different types of opponents that, you attacked in different ways. So I think we’ll be prepared we’ll have our guys’ mindset ready on that. But I don’t want to take away from their ability to shoot the three, you know, they’re just a kind of a lower volume three-point shooting team, but they have guys that can knock them down all over the court and even (Tyrese) Samuel’s shown he can make them too. So it won’t be a situation where it’s like completely packed in and not respecting their three-point shot at all, because those guys can, (Will) Richard, I mean, those guys can shoot.”
On the mindset entering the Florida game, facing Walter Clayton and Zyon Pullin
“Both of those guys are really good and (Riley) Kugel is good. (Tyrese) Samuel was good. I mean they got a really good team, but it is, their guard play is as strong as there is in the league. So it’s going to take a team effort. Not one guy will be able to do the job because they’re so aggressive. They are so talented and the offense is designed for them to attack certain areas so it won’t just be the guy on the ball. It’ll be everybody around playing, being where they’re supposed to be. And that guy guarding the ball having confidence that, ‘Hey man, I got some help behind me. I got to do my job. But you know, if something does happen, I do have built in help that can help slow these guys down.’ But it’s definitely going to be a handful. Those guys are, they’re tough.”
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes)
Florida (via UF Game Notes)
Team Statistics (via Sports Reference)
Tennessee:
Florida:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Dalton Knecht — 17.2 PPG, 47.7 FG%, 39.7 3PT%
Rebounds: Jonas Aidoo — 7.4 RPG, 4.6 DRPG, 2.8 ORPG
