The Tennessee men’s basketball team, ranked fourth, will take on the No. 15/16 Missouri Tigers in their fifth consecutive matchup against a top-15 SEC opponent on Wednesday night at the Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET.
The game will be televised on SEC Network, with Roy Philpott handling play-by-play and Jimmy Dykes on analysis. Fans can also listen to the game on their local Vol Network affiliate with Bob Kesling and Steve Hamer providing the commentary.
In their last game, Tennessee produced a dominant performance despite missing two starters, Zakai Zeigler and Igor Miličić Jr., to defeat No. 5/6 Florida 64-44. Chaz Lanier led the way for the Volunteers with 19 points as they improved their record to 18-4 overall and 5-4 in SEC play.
When it comes to the matchup against Missouri, Tennessee has had success in recent years, boasting a 10-6 record against the Tigers since they joined the SEC in 2012-13. The Volunteers have won 11 of their last 17 meetings with Missouri and have won five straight road games against the Tigers.
Missouri, coming off an 8-24 season in 2023-24, has surprised many by being ranked No. 13 in the SEC preseason poll. Senior guard Tamar Bates leads the Tigers in scoring with 13.5 points per game.
Some interesting news and notes surrounding the game include the connection between Tennessee and Missouri players, with Chaz Lanier and Missouri’s Jacob Crews being former teammates at North Florida. Additionally, several members of the Tennessee team have connections to Missouri, including assistant coaches Rod Clark and Gregg Polinsky, who are Missouri natives.
Tennessee has been particularly strong at home under head coach Rick Barnes, boasting an impressive record against ranked opponents at the Food City Center. The Volunteers have been a force to be reckoned with against top-25 teams, top-20 teams, and top-15 teams in recent years.
In the past four years, Tennessee has accumulated the most AP top-25 wins in the nation, showcasing their ability to perform against ranked opponents. They have been particularly potent at home, where they have had great success against top-ranked teams.
The Volunteers have a storied history of success against ranked opponents, with strong showings against top-10 and top-five teams. Under Rick Barnes, Tennessee has built a reputation as a team that rises to the occasion against the best teams in the country.
In conclusion, the matchup between Tennessee and Missouri promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to continue their success in SEC play. With Tennessee’s strong performance against highly-ranked opponents in recent years, they will be looking to maintain their home dominance and secure another important victory.