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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 6/7 Tennessee men’s basketball team makes its return to home turf to battle No. 14 Mississippi State in its third consecutive matchup at home against a ranked SEC opponent on Tuesday evening at Food City Center. The start time is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Supporters can view Tuesday’s game involving the Volunteers (16-2, 3-2 SEC) and Bulldogs (15-3, 3-2 SEC) on ESPN2. The commentary will be provided by Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst).
Listeners can also tune in live on their local Vol Network affiliate to catch Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp narrating the action.
In Tennessee’s last match, it suffered a narrow 76-75 defeat against Vanderbilt before a packed house at Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday night.
Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier led the team with 17 points for UT, which had several chances to equalize in the final moments after falling behind by 16 with under 11 minutes remaining and by 10 with fewer than four minutes left. Three additional Vols contributed 16 points in the loss.
THE FACE-OFF
• Tennessee’s 90 wins over Mississippi State are the third-most against any opponent, surpassed only by Vanderbilt (131) and Georgia (100).
• This marks the 137th contest—22 of which occurred before the 1948-49 commencement of the AP Poll—and the initial meeting where both teams are ranked. The Vols have faced a ranked Mississippi State squad only 12 times (4-7) and are ranked for the 12th occasion in the last 13 matchups (since 2/27/18).
• The Volunteers hold a 9-3 record in their last 12 encounters with Mississippi State, dating back to 2/27/18.
• Mississippi State was the sole SEC opponent that UT did not defeat in 2023-24, finishing with an 0-2 record (including the SEC Tournament) against the Bulldogs while achieving a 14-3 record against all other teams.
• Rick Barnes boasts a 23-7 record against the SEC’s two Mississippi schools as a head coach, with a 20-7 record at Tennessee (9-1 at home).
• Following a 21-14 (8-10) performance in 2023-24 that included an NCAA Tournament berth, Mississippi State was placed No. 10 in this year’s SEC preseason rankings.
• Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard leads the Bulldogs with an average of 16.6 points per game.
UPDATES & INSIGHTS
• Zakai Zeigler is averaging 17.2 points per game in his six meetings against Mississippi State, including a remarkable 23.3 points per game over the last three games. Three of his seven college outings where he scored 20 or more points were against the Bulldogs, with two of those exceeding 24 points.
• This is the second consecutive home game for Tennessee in which it is engaging in an AP top-25 matchup with a specific opponent for the first time. It previously defeated #23 Georgia, 74-56, on 1/15/25.
• UT has a record of 31-23 (.574) in AP top-25 matchups under Rick Barnes, including a 3-1 record in 2024-25 and a .590 (23-16) record when both teams are ranked in the AP top 20.
• The Volunteers have a home record of 19-7 (.731) against AP top-25 teams during the Barnes era, which includes a 14-1 tally in their last 15 such games (since 1/30/21).
• Tennessee’s .795 (58-15) winning rate on Tuesdays during Barnes’ tenure represents its highest winning percentage for any day of the week.
• At 67-7 (.905), UT is one of merely 10 Division I teams that boast a .900-plus home winning percentage over the last five seasons (2020-25), ranking among five in a Power Five league.
• UT aims for a 3-0 start in SEC home competition for the fourth time in seven years, marking the third instance in the last four seasons and the second consecutive time.
• Tennessee averages 5.2 dunks per game while allowing just 0.9 per game. Felix Okpara (37) and Cade Phillips (26) have partnered for nearly four times the number of dunks (63) that the Volunteers have conceded in total (17).
• Tennessee leads Division I in 3P% defense at 25.5, which is 1.4 percent better than the second-best team. This is equivalent to the gap between No. 2 Cincinnati (26.9) and No. 13 Bradley (28.3).
• In the four most recent games, Felix Okpara has recorded 13 blocks (3.3 bpg), achieving three or more blocks in each game. In the initial 14 games of the season, he accumulated 18 blocks (1.3 bpg), with three or more blocks occurring only three times.
• The Volunteers have secured 187 wins over the past eight seasons (2017-25), ranking tied for seventh nationally along with Auburn and Saint Mary’s. Only Gonzaga (227), Houston (222), Kansas (204), Duke (201), Purdue (197) and San Diego State (188) achieved more. Liberty (186) completes the top 10.
ELITE COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two institutions to obtain an AP top-five ranking in each of the past four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, commenced 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers rank among just four squads to enter the AP top six in every one of the last five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston, and Kansas.
• UT stands as one of only five programs to rank in the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), appearing alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Kentucky. These are also the only five schools to achieve an AP top-five ranking in at least five different years during that time frame.
• The Vols are among only eight teams that have held the No. 1 position in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, and Purdue.
• During the same seven-year period (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams that has achieved an AP top-two ranking in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Purdue.
• Tennessee is one of just seven institutions to have received an AP top-20 ranking in each of the past eight years (2017- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, and North Carolina. Only two additional teams— Houston and Purdue—have even made it into the AP top 25 in every one of those seasons.
• Furthermore, over the last three years (2022-25), the Vols rank among just six teams to achieve the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, Kansas, and Purdue.
AN OUTSTANDING DEFENSE AS A UT SIGNATURE
• As of 1/18/25, Tennessee ranks third in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (89.7), just behind Houston (87.9) and Duke (88.1).
• The Volunteers finished third in 2023-24 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (90.2) and fifth in Division I in field-goal percentage defense (39.4).
• In the 2022-23 season, UT led the nation in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (87.5), holding the top position for 15 weeks. The Vols also led Division I in 3-point defense (26.5) that year and ranked third in scoring defense (57.9) and field-goal percentage defense (37.3).
• In five of the past seven seasons (2017-24), UT has achieved a top-10 position in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency: third in 2023-24, first in 2022-23, third in 2021-22, fifth in 2020-21, and sixth in 2017-18.
• Through 1/16/25, UT has won 43 consecutive games when restricting its opponent to under 60 points, dating back to 3/11/22, which includes an impressive 22-0 record in 2022-23.
• The Vols, as of 1/16/25, have won 49 straight contests when allowing 50 points or fewer, since 12/29/12. This includes 12 such victories in 2022-23, tying Houston for the highest number of any team that season.
BUILDING A RESUME OF RANKED WINS
• TOP 25: In the last four years (2021-25), Tennessee hasan SEC-leading 22 AP top-25 victories, tied with Connecticut for third nationally. It trails only Kansas (24) and Iowa State (24). Only Purdue (22) is close to the Volunteers, while the nearest SEC institution is two behind (Alabama with 21).
• TOP 20: Tennessee holds an SEC-high 19 AP top-20 victories during this period, sharing the third-most of any DI institution, tied with Purdue, while only trailing Connecticut (22) and Kansas (21). Only Iowa State (18) is even one behind the Volunteers, with the closest SEC team two behind (Alabama with 17).
• TOP 15: The Volunteers boast an SEC-best 16 AP top-15 outcomes over these four seasons, positioning them second-most in the nation, behind only Kansas (19). Only Iowa State (15) and the nearest SEC team, Alabama (15), are close within one of Tennessee.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee has claimed eight AP top-10 victories, ranking third in the SEC and, along with North Carolina, is co-sixth nationally. Only Iowa State (12), Connecticut (11), Kansas (11), Purdue (10), Alabama (nine), and Kentucky (nine) have more wins. These eight victories were against #1 Alabama (2/15/23), #3 Kansas (11/25/22), #3 Auburn (2/26/22), #4 Kentucky (2/15/22), #5 Kentucky (3/12/22), #6 Arizona (12/22/21), #10 Texas (1/28/23), and at #10 Kentucky (2/3/24).
• TOP FIVE: During that same four-year duration, UT has achieved five AP top-five victories, tied with Alabama, Arizona, and Iowa State for the highest in the nation. Only two other programs, Gonzaga and Purdue, have even four.
…AND DOING SO EFFICIENTLY
• Tennessee, with a record of 23-15 (.605), has the SEC’s top record against AP top-25 opponents over the last four seasons (2021-25). Auburn (15-10 .600) stands second, while no other team exceeds a mark of .530.
• The Vols are nine games over .500 (19-10; .655) against AP top-20 teams during that timeframe. Auburn (12-8; .600) ranks second in the SEC, with no other teams exceeding a .500 record.
• UT is also nine games over .500 (16-7; .696) versus AP top-15 opponents during this period, while the next closest SEC team in winning percentage is Auburn (9-6; .600) far behind.
• With a record of 8-6 (.571), the Volunteers have the best record in the SEC against AP top-10 opponents in those four seasons. Kentucky (9-9; .500) is the only other team at an even .500 record.
• Tennessee (5-4; .556) remains the sole SEC institution with a winning record against AP top-five programs in that four-year span. Arkansas (3-3; .500) ranks second, while all others fall below a .500 mark.
• Despite their remarkable winning percentage, the Volunteers have played the fourth-highest number of games (38) against AP top-25 opponents among any SEC team in the last four years (2021-25). They are behind only Texas (46), Oklahoma (41), and Alabama (40) in such encounters, while no other SEC program surpasses 33.
WINNING WAYS
• Throughout the past eight seasons (2017-25), Tennessee co-leads all SEC teams in overall wins (187) and postseason triumphs (18), while closely sitting in second for overall winning percentage (.733). During this time, UT has secured three SEC championships (2018 and 2024 regular seasons, 2022 tournament).
• In that same eight-year frame, the Vols are one of only three SEC squads with an overall winning percentage exceeding .660, alongside Auburn (.739) and Kentucky (.703).
• In SEC matchups over the same eight years, Tennessee (89-41; .685) is second in the league, trailing Kentucky (90-40; .692), in both total victories and winning percentage. Only Auburn (86-45; .656) and Alabama (82-49; .626) have at least 75 wins.
• Over just the last four seasons (2021-25), the Volunteers present a 95-30 (.760) overall record. This is the highest number of victories and the second-best winning percentage in the SEC during that timeframe. They only trail Auburn (93-28; .769) in winning percentage.
• In that same four-year span, Tennessee (42-17; .712) is tied with both Alabama and Kentucky for the second-best conference record among SEC teams, following only Auburn (43-16; .729).
POLL PRESENCE
• Tennessee has participated in 221 games as a ranked team in the AP Poll during Rick Barnes‘ leadership, accumulating a record of 167-54 (.756). Over 68.0 percent of the Volunteers’ 321 games since Barnes’ arrival in 2015-16 have been played while the team was ranked in the AP Poll, all since 2017-18 (221 out of 255, 86.7 percent).
• UT maintains a record of 146-49 (.749) while in the AP top 20 under Barnes, 115-36 (.762) while top-15, 89-27 (.767) while top-10, 44-13 (.772) while top-five, 25-3 (.893) while top-three, and 14-2 (.875) while ranked No. 1.
• The Vols have a record of 31-23 (.574) in AP top-25 contests under Barnes, including 23-16 (.590) with both teams positioned in the top 20, 14-10 (.583) with both in the top 15, and 7-7 (.500) with both in the top 10.
HAPPY AT HOME
• Over the past five seasons (2020-25), the Volunteers’ .905 (67-7) home winning percentage ranks eighth in DI, the fourth among Power Five teams, and first in the SEC.
• In total, UT boasts a record of 132-24 (.846) at Food City Center during Rick Barnes‘ decade, having gone undefeated at home twice (18-0 in 2018-19 and 16-0 in 2021-22).
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