Tennessee basketball is back in action on Tuesday night when they host Texas in its SEC home opener. Both teams are looking for their first conference win with Tennessee falling at Arkansas and Texas falling at Mississippi State over the weekend.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
More From RTI: Pair Of Tennessee Basketball Big Men On Injury Report For Texas Game
How to Watch — No. 21 Tennessee (10-4, 0-1 SEC) vs. Texas (9-5, 0-1 SEC)
- Start Time: 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Watch: ESPN2. PxP: Karl Ravech, CC: Jimmy Dykes
- 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 -10.5 Texas
- Over/under 153.5
- Tennessee -10 Texas
- Over/under 154
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Texas (via. Tex Game Notes):
What Rick Barnes Said About The Longhorns
On what stands about Texas
“Well, so much respect for Sean (Miller). You know, I’ve known Sean. If you don’t know the story, I met John Calipari in, I think, 1976. And we were at the University of Pitt’s camp and he was still in college, I think it was at Clarion College, and I just graduated, and we were working this camp together and we each had a team, and my team won the championship. My starting point guard was eight-years-old, Sean Miller, and we won the championship. So I’ve watched Sean grow up, coached against him, obviously when he was at Pitt and I was at Providence. Just a great deal of respect and obviously we coached against each other, too, later on at Arizona, Texas.
“But just so much respect for him and he’s going to do a great — his teams are always tough, hard-nosed. He’s a coach that will adjust to whatever he needs to do to put his team in the best position to win. I know they lost a tough game Saturday and he’ll have ’em ready to play.”
Where They Land In The Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: No. 21
- Coaches Poll: No. 22
- KenPom: No. 16
- Bart Torvik: No. 15
- EvanMiya: No. 16
Texas
- AP Poll: NR
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 52
- Bart Torvik: No. 51
- EvanMiya: No. 44
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Texas:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 17.6 PPG, 42.3 FG%, 34.5 3PT%
Rebounds: Jaylen Carey — 6.6 RPG, 3.6 DRPG, 3 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.7 APG, 2.4 TOPG, 31.5 MPG
Texas:
Points: Dailyn Swain — 16.4 PPG, 56 FG%, 28.6 3PT%
Rebounds: Dailyn Swain — 7.4 RPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.9 ORPG
Assists: Dailyn Swain — 3.4 APG, 2.4 TOPG, 29.6
Prediction
Expect both teams to come out desperate in this one after dropping their SEC opener over the weekend. For Tennessee, this is a game they need badly. The Vols play four difficult road games in January. They need to take care of business at home to stay afloat.
Texas is another big team. They’re really good on the glass. This is a game that feels like it’ll begin when a shot goes up. The Longhorns both get to the free throw line and put opponents on the free throw line frequently. Tennessee needs to take advantage of its opportunities at the line and shoot better than they have.
Tennessee 84, Texas 70
