No. 6 Tennessee vs. LSU: How To Watch, Betting Odds, Complete Preview

Photo by Ian Cox/ Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee basketball looks to build off its emotional win over Kentucky as they prepare to host LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Wednesday night.

The Vols are looking to avoid another midweek home upset loss while LSU is hoping to start a winning streak after losing three straight prior to Saturday’s win over Arkansas.

Here’s everything to know about the matchup.

More From RTI: Everything Rick Barnes Said Ahead Of The LSU Game

How to Watch – No. 6 Tennessee (16-5, 6-2 SEC) vs. LSU (12-9, 4-4 SEC)

  • Start Time: 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
  • Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
  • TV: SEC Network. PxP: Kevin Fitzgerald. CC: Jon Sundvold
  • Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
  • Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App

Betting Lines

Draft Kings

  • Tennessee -14.5 LSU
  • Over/under 152.5

KenPom

  • Tennessee -15 LSU
  • Over/under 149

What Tennessee HC Rick Barnes Said About LSU

On what stands out about LSU

“Coach McMahon does a really good job. He’s been successful everywhere he’s been, able to build his roster. He walked into a very difficult situation a year but was able to use the portal to get what he felt like he needed to continue to build the program the way that he wanted to build it. Very explosive team. They’re very difficult to guard. A lot like Kentucky, can make extremely difficult shots even if you guard them. Really good schemes. And he gets the matchups that he wants and he’s done a really good job putting together a group of guys that can, first of all, they’ve played in big games. They’ve been in big games so like every night in this league, if you’re not ready to play, it can be a long night for you.”

On the best defense for a team that likes to penetrate and kick

“Control the ball. That’s the best option (more than) anything, is (if) you can control the ball, which is a lot more difficult than you think, but if you can keep people, keep your defense outta rotation, which is really hard to do. And then when that does happen, how well can you scramble out of it and still contest shots and stay in position to rebound the ball?”

On how to adjust to a big man who can make three’s like LSU’s Will Baker

“Well, it’s tough. If we’re in switching situations, obviously we can get out there, but ball-screen coverage, depending on if they pop or roll, it is a different thing. But that’s the one thing that we’ve worked at all year trying to get our post guys to be able to get out and guard further away from the basket.”

Probable Starters

Tennessee (via UT Game Notes)

LSU (via LSU Game Notes)

Team Statistics (via Sports Reference)

Tennessee:
LSU:

Stat Leaders

Tennessee:

Points: Dalton Knecht — 19.9 PPG, 48.2 FG%, 39.1 3PT%

Rebounds: Jonas Aidoo — 7.5 RPG, 4.8 DRPG, 2.7 ORPG

Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 5.4 APG, 2.2 TOPG, 29.3 MPG

LSU:

Points: Jordan Wright — 15.5 PPG, 40 FG%, 36.5 3PT%

Rebounds: Jordan Wright — 5.2 RPG, 4.0 DRPG, 1.2 ORPG

Assists: Jordan Wright — 2.8 APG, 1.9 TOPG, 31 MPG

Last Five Games

Tennessee: 

  • 103-92 win at Kentucky
  • 63-59 loss versus South Carolina
  • 75-62 win at Vanderbilt
  • 91-71 win versus Alabama
  • 85-66 win versus Florida

LSU:

  • 95-74 win versus Arkansas
  • 109-88 loss at Alabama
  • 68-66 loss at Georgia
  • 73-69 loss versus Texas A&M
  • 89-80 win versus LSU

Prediction

Tennessee is the better team and at home which is a good recipe for them to earn their third straight win over the Tigers. The biggest concern would be coming out flat after the big win at Kentucky. But after losing at home to South Carolina last Tuesday, the Vols should be locked in for this one.

LSU is a strong three-point shooting team including its big men and that’s the Tigers path to an upset in this one. But Tennessee should dominate the offensive glass and get open looks consistently.

The Vols win without too much stress.

Tennessee 85, LSU 66

Similar Articles

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RTI on X/Twitter