Tennessee basketball returns home on Saturday afternoon where they’ll face Vanderbilt in a rematch of last month’s loss in Nashville.
The Commodores come to Knoxville amidst a brutal stretch in their schedule. Tennessee is looking to bounce back from its loss at Kentucky with its fourth win in its last five games.
Here’s everything to know ahead of the rivalry rematch.
More From RTI: Three Things To Watch For As Tennessee Basketball Faces Vanderbilt
How To Watch — No. 5 Tennessee (20-5, 7-5 SEC) vs Vanderbilt (17-7, 5-6 SEC)
Start Time: 1 p.m. ET/noon. CT
Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Watch: SEC Network. PxP: Dave Neal, CC: Pat Bradley
Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook
Tennessee -13.5 Vanderbilt
Over/under 147.5
KenPom
Tennessee -14 Vanderbilt
Over/under: 148
What Tennessee HC Rick Barnes Said About The Commodores
On what Tennessee has to do better in its second game against Vanderbilt
Well, I think they’ve improved. I’d like to think we’ve improved too. I thought they really did a good job in their ball-screen offense. I didn’t think we were great at it, but they had a lot to do with that. And I’d also like to see us shoot the ball better. I think that’s important. At some point in time we’re going to have to make shots. But even with that, we’ve proven that we can hang in there and hopefully make enough to get it done when it needs to get done. But I’m impressed with Mark (Byington) and what he’s done with his group. They’ve been right here all year with everyone and he’s done a great job.”
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Vanderbilt (via VU Game Notes):
Team Statistics (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Vanderbilt:
Individual Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Chaz Lanier — 17.4 PPG, 41.1 FG%, 40.2 3PT%
Rebounds: Igor Milicic — 8 RPG, 5.8 DRPG, 2.2 ORPG
Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 7.5 APG, 3.0 TOPG, 34.4 MPG
Vanderbilt:
Points: Jason Edwards — 17.4 PPG, 45.5 FG%, 36.9 FG%
Rebounds: Devin McGlockton — 8.1 RPG, 4.7 DRPG, 3.4 ORPG
Assists: AJ Hoggard — 4.6 APG, 2.2 TOPG, 25.7 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
75-64 loss at Kentucky
70-52 win at Oklahoma
85-81 win versus Missouri
64-44 win versus Florida
78-73 loss versus Kentucky
Vanderbilt:
80-68 loss versus Auburn
86-78 win versus Texas
86-75 loss at Florida
97-67 loss at Oklahoma
74-69 win versus Kentucky
Prediction
Vanderbilt is the exact type of team that has offensive success against Tennessee. They can score from the perimeter and beat opponents by spacing the floor and making you defend all five opponents. It gave Tennessee issues in Nashville as has Kentucky and Missouri’s offensive style.
I don’t think Tennessee wins this game in blowout fashion unless they have a fantastic offensive showing. Given Vanderbilt’s defensive issues, that’s certainly possible. But the Vols haven’t shown enough offensive consistency for me to bank on that.
Tennessee gets revenge but it’s closer than the experts in the desert expect.
Tennessee 76, Vanderbilt 70
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