Tennessee basketball begins the final week of the regular season Tuesday night when they face South Carolina in Columbia. The Vols are looking to end a two-game losing streak but they’ll have to do it without Nate Ament who will miss the game with a right leg injury.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Basketball Will Turn With Nate Ament Out Versus South Carolina
How to Watch — No. 23 Tennessee (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at South Carolina (12-17, 3-13 SEC)
- Start Time: 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
- Location: Colonial Life Arena
- Watch: SEC Network. PxP: Kevin Fitzgerald, CC: Perry Clark
- 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 -9.5 South Carolina
- Over/under 143.5
- Tennessee -9 South Carolina
- Over/under: 149
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
*Nate Ament is out due to injury
South Carolina (via last game):
Where They Land In The Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: No. 23
- Coaches Poll: No. 25
- KenPom: No. 18
- Bart Torvik: No. 14
- EvanMiya: No. 16
South Carolina:
- AP Poll: NR
- Coaches Poll: NR
- KenPom: No. 94
- Bart Torvik: No. 102
- EvanMiya: No. 98
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
South Carolina:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
*Does not include Ament who is out
Points: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 18.4 PPG, 41.1 FG%, 34.9 3PT%
Rebounds: Jaylen Carey — 6.3 RPG, 3.4 DRPG, 2.9 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.3 APG, 2.2 TOPG, 34.2 MPG
South Carolina:
Points: Meechie Johnson — 17.2 PPG, 42.0 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
Rebounds: Mike Sharavjamts — 5.5 RPG, 4.2 DRPG, 1.3 ORPG
Assists: Meechie Johnson — 4.3 APG, 2.2 TOPG, 31.4 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 71-69 loss against Alabama
- 73-69 loss at Missouri
- 69-65 win at Vanderbilt
- 89-66 win versus Oklahoma
- 73-63 win versus LSU
South Carolina:
- 87-68 loss at Georgia
- 72-63 loss versus Kentucky
- 97-89 win versus Mississippi State
- 76-62 loss at Florida
- 89-75 loss at Alabama
Prediction
Tennessee had a rare three-game losing streak earlier this season. They’re looking to avoid a second one this season as they head to South Carolina on Tuesday night.
Nate Ament being out is a very tough blow because of the Vols’ lack of secondary scoring options. But the good news is that South Carolina does not do a good job of defending the rim, forcing turnovers or rebounding the basketball.
Tennessee should be able to take care of business even without one of its top two players.
Tennessee 74, South Carolina 64
