Despite the snowstorm that Knoxville saw on Friday night and Saturday morning, the Tennessee-Auburn SEC basketball game from the Food City Center on Saturday night still looks to be set for its normal slotted time of 8:30 p.m. ET, according to a Tennessee spokesperson. Several SEC basketball games over the last week were delayed or postponed following last weekend’s winter storm across the southeast, but the snow doesn’t seem to be slowing down the Vols’ game on Saturday night.
Tennessee Basketball’s social media account posted Checker FCC reminders on Saturday morning and followed that up with a Numbers to Know post on Saturday afternoon. Knoxville has seen multiple inches of snow and strong winds come through over the last day.
Barring no further issues or cancellations, Tennessee Basketball will host Auburn in an SEC showdown at 8:30 p.m. ET in the Food City Center. Tennessee is rolling out its Checker FCC event for the fans and students in attendance.
The Volunteers are currently a point betting favorite heading into Saturday’s matchup.
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“Well, I think, again, Steven has done a really good job,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said about Auburn on Friday. “I think that they continue to get better all year, which that’s what you’re looking for. And (they’re) playing with confidence. And he does, again, a terrific job of getting his guys where he wants them to be. And they’re doing a lot of really good things.”
Steven Pearl, in his first year as head coach after taking the reins from his father, Bruce, is returning to a familiar location this weekend. Pearl played at Tennessee for four years from 2007 to 2011.
“I don’t want to make it about me,” Pearl said. “I’ve been there before as an assistant, so I don’t think the emotions will be much different. I played five years there and gave all my blood, sweat and tears to that university, and had a lot of great times and won a lot of games. There’s so many things that happened at Tennessee that have shaped my life to what it is today, so I’m eternally grateful. I would like a Letterman’s jacket at some point, because I still haven’t gotten that, but my years there were some of the best of my life personally, because it shaped the man I am today and a lot of things kind of fell in place for me to be where I’m at, in this chair.”
ESPN Analytics has Tennessee with a 69.4% chance to win the game, but the Tigers have been on a hot streak lately. Auburn has won four straight SEC games with victories over South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, and Texas. Tennessee, meanwhile, has built up a little momentum itself. After starting SEC play 2-3 with two road losses, the Volunteers have rattled off two straight road wins with victories at Alabama and Georgia.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for live coverage of the game on Saturday night in the checkered-out Food City Center.
One Response
UT should present Steven a letterman’s jacket before tonight’s game. He gave an awful lot during his time in Knoxville to the program. Pat Summitt appreciated practice squad players immensely, as should all programs. It would be the right thing to do.