Head coach Bob Richey is in his first season leading the Paladins, who are members of the Southern Conference, after spending the previous six years as an assistant on the staff.
Furman claimed a share of the Southern Conference regular season title in 2016-17, posting a school-record tying 23 victories and a 14-4 conference mark. After falling in the quarterfinals of the SoCon Tournament, the Paladins advanced all the way to the semifinals of the CIT.
Furman's trip to Rocky Top represents a homecoming for reigning SoCon Player of the Year Devin Sibley. A Knoxville native and Karns High School graduate, Sibley averaged 17.7 ppg while boasting impressive shooting percentages of .522 from the field and .449 from three.
This season, Sibley has paced the Paladins' offensive attack, averaging 15.7 ppg on 49 percent (69-141) shooting to go along with 4.3 rpg and 2.7 apg.
Junior forward Matt Rafferty has stepped up his play for Furman this year, nearly averaging a double-double with 11.9 ppg and 8.3 rpg. He's shooting 66 percent (58-88) from the field. He's also posting 2.7 apg and 1.7 spg.
John Davis and Daniel Fowler also average scoring in double digits each contest, posting 13.1 and 12.0 ppg, respectively.
The Paladins enter the contest riding a five-game winning streak and have won seven of their last eight after starting the season 2-2. Over the last four games, Furman has averaged 94.3 ppg.