Tennessee basketball is back in action Saturday afternoon when they face rival Vanderbilt in Nashville. The Vols have won seven of eight but face a step up in competition Saturday. Vanderbilt is looking to bounce back from a loss at Missouri earlier this week.
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 (19-7, 9-4 SEC) at No. 19 Vanderbilt (21-5, 8-5 SEC)
- Start Time: 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
- Location: Memorial Gymnasium
- Watch: ESPN. PxP: Dave O’Brien, CC: Cory Alexander, CC: Dick Vitale
- Online Streaming: WatchESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Mike Keith, CC: Chris Lofton
Betting Odds
- Vanderbilt -3.5 Tennessee
- Over/under 149.5
- Vanderbilt -4 Tennessee
- Over/under: 149
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Vanderbilt (via last game):
*Star guard Duke Miles is probable to play after missing time with a knee injury
Where They Land In The Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: NR
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 16
- Bart Torvik: No. 16
- EvanMiya: No. 19
Vanderbilt:
- AP Poll: No. 19
- Coaches Poll: No. 18
- KenPom: No. 12
- Bart Torvik: No. 12
- EvanMiya: No. 13
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Vanderbilt:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Nate Ament — 18.2 PPG, 42.6 FG%, 32.4 3PT%
Rebounds: Nate Ament — 6.4 RPG, 4.8 DRPG, 1.6 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.5 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 34 MPG
Vanderbilt:
Points: Tyler Tanner — 18.6 PPG, 47.2 FG%, 37 3PT%
Rebounds: Devin McGlockton — 6.9 RPG, 4.4 DRPG, 2.5 ORPG
Assists: Tyler Tanner — 5.3 APG, 1.9 TOPG, 32.1 MPG
Tennessee:
- 89-66 win versus Oklahoma
- 73-63 win versus LSU
- 73-64 win at Mississippi State
- 74-71 loss at Kentucky
- 84-66 win versus Ole Miss
Vanderbilt:
- 81-80 loss at Missouri
- 82-69 win versus Texas A&M
- 84-76 win at Auburn
- 92-91 loss versus Oklahoma
- 71-68 win versus Ole Miss
Prediction
Tennessee has played well over the last month and seems to have turned a corner. But the competition ramps up the last 2.5 weeks of the regular season starting at Vanderbilt.
The Commodores should have the advantage in the turnover battle while Tennessee should have an advantage on the glass. This game will tell us a lot about the Vols’ improvements.
But with Vanderbilt at home and Duke Miles back in the fold, I have a hard time picking against the Commodores.
