Tennessee basketball is back in action Wednesday night as they prepare to face Mississippi State on the road. The Vols are looking to bounce back from their loss at Kentucky against a Bulldog team that has struggled for much of the season.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
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How to Watch — Tennessee (16-7, 6-4 SEC) at Mississippi State (11-12, 3-7 SEC)
- Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Humphrey Coliseum
- Watch: ESPN2. PxP: Roy Philpott, CC: Richard Hendrix
- Online Streaming: WatchESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Mike Keith, CC: Chris Lofton
Betting Odds
- Tennessee -7.5 Mississippi State
- Over/under 146.5
- Tennessee -7 Mississippi State
- Over/under: 143
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Mississippi State (via last game):
Where They Land In The Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: NR
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 16
- Bart Torvik: No. 17
- EvanMiya: No. 19
Mississippi State
- AP Poll: NR
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 86
- Bart Torvik: No. 86
- EvanMiya: No. 76
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Mississippi State:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 18.5 PPG, 41.6 FG%, 35.8 3PT%
Rebounds: Nate Ament — 6.5 RPG, 4.8 DRPG, 1.7 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.3 APG, 2.4 TOPG, 33.7 MPG
Mississippi State:
Points: Josh Hubbard — 20.6 PPG, 40.2 FG%, 31.7 3PT%
Rebounds: Achor Achor — 6.7 RPG, 4.4 DRPG, 2.3 ORPG
Assists: Josh Hubbard — 3.6 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 32.6 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 74-71 loss at Kentucky
- 84-66 win versus Ole Miss
- 77-69 win versus Auburn
- 86-85 win at Georgia (OT)
- 78-73 win at Alabama
Mississippi State:
- 88-68 loss versus Arkansas
- 84-79 loss at Missouri
- 80-66 win at LSU
- 88-56 loss versus Vanderbilt
- 88-68 loss at Texas A&M
Prediction
Under Chris Jans, Mississippi State has consistently been a strong defensive team and a bit shaky offensively. The defense took a small step back last season but an improved offense mitigated the decline. This year, the defense has taken another step back while the offense has fallen off a cliff.
Josh Hubbard is, again, the guy for Mississippi State while Jayden Epps is an inconsistent second option. If Tennessee slows down Hubbard then it’s hard to imagine it being a good night for the Bulldogs offense.
One of Mississippi State’s few strengths has been on the defensive glass. Tennessee will certainly test that, but the Vols may need to find a better first shot offense. We’ll see if they can get out in transition and score easy baskets there. The Bulldogs have been vulnerable there.
Tennessee 74, Mississippi State 63
