The Official #5 Tennessee @ Vanderbilt Game Thread, 6:00 PM ET, SEC Network

[YankeeVol]

#5 Tennessee Volunteers: 14-4 (4-1 SEC)

@

Vanderbilt Commodores: 5-13 (0-5 SEC)

GAME 19 | TENNESSEE at VANDERBILT - Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 | 6 p.m. ET | Nashville, Tenn. | Memorial Gymnasium (14,326)


Line: UT -13.5
O/U: 141.5

TV: SEC Network / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen / Live Stats
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM: 138 & 191
Online: WatchESPN.com

Vanderbilt Game Notes

 

[YankeeVol]

THE MATCHUP

• Tennessee's 129 victories over Vanderbilt are its most against any foe. The only other school it has defeated triple-digit times is Georgia (100).
• The Volunteers' 11-game series winning streak (1/9/18 to 1/10/23) was snapped in the most recent meeting, as the Commodores won, 66-65, on a buzzer-beater on 2/8/23 on their home court.
• This is the 11th time in the last 13 matchups, dating back to 1/9/18, the Volunteers are ranked and the Commodores are not.
• Following a 22-15 (11-7) campaign that included a trip to the NIT quarterfinals, Vanderbilt was voted No. 11 in the SEC preseason poll.
• Fifth-year guard Ezra Manjon is Vanderbilt's leader in both points (15.2) and assists (3.3) per game.
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse were both among the 14 new members inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame last year on 4/21/23. More information can be found on Page 19.

 

[YankeeVol]

NEWS & NOTES

• Rick Barnes is 29-6 (.829) against in-state foes during his nine- year Tennessee tenure, including 12-1 (.923) over the last 13 such contests. More information can be found on Page 7.
• Santiago Vescovi's next start will be the 129th of his career, moving him past Chris Lofton (2004-08) and Allan Houston (1989-93) for sole possession of the most in program history.
• Zakai Zeigler has 25 steals in the last nine games (2.8 spg), making him the second UT player in Rick Barnes' nine years to achieve that feat, alongside former teammate Kennedy Chandler, who had 26 from 11/26/21 to 1/8/22. Zeigler needed just 83 appearances to become the 12th Volunteer ever with 150 steals.
• After previously eclipsing 17 points just twice in his career, Jonas Aidoo scored 19 in each of the last two games, his first time tallying even 15-plus back-to-back as a collegian. The 38 points are his second-most in a two-game stretch at UT, trailing only the 43 he had from 12/9/23 to 12/12/23.

 

[TheBigOne10]

Yes sir!!! Lets kick their a** in their poverty gym.

 

[YankeeVol]

DOMINANT DK

• Dalton Knecht, the SEC's active career PPG leader (15.27) and a two-time reigning USBWA National Player of the Week, has 128 points in the last four games.
• The only other SEC player in the last 15 seasons (2009-24) to score at least 128 points in a four-game span is Arkansas' Mason Jones (2/26-3/7/20).
• A two-time reigning SEC Player of the Week, Knecht is the first player to win the award back-to- back since Kentucky's Immanuel Quickley (2019-20) and the fourth Vol ever to do so, joining Admiral Schofield (2018-19), Ron Slay (2002-03) and Dyron Nix (1989- 90). Knecht is also the fourth Vol to win it thrice in a season, joining Nix, Grant Williams (2018-19) and Chris Lofton (2006-07, 2005-06).
• Knecht is the fourth Vol with at least three 35-point games in a season, alongside Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld and Tony White.
• In four road games at UT, Knecht is averaging 31.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg, while posting a 61.4 FG% and a 48.3 3P%. He has 24-plus points in each outing, with 36-plus in two.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Important game. Gotta win the road ones against bottom feeders. No slip ups. We owe them a beatdown for last year, too.

 

[65YearsAVol]

Bury them, along with their rusted anchor.

 

[WillisWG]

Go Big Orange!

 

[PEPPERJAX]

You da man!
@YankeeVol

 

[Kicker82]

Send stackhouse closer to the unemployment line today

 

[TMvol10]

Memorial does weird things to teams, especially the Vols. Add in a week off, we might come out rusty. Let’s hope this years team bucks that trend. Vols eventually roll 76-62. GBO

 

[volz2wallz]

GBO!!

 

[TooLegit2Quit]

This one makes me a bit nervous with the long break between games. But overall this team is far too veteran to be thrown off by the benches behind the goals at this point. Hopefully Dalton adapts quickly and keeps his hot road scoring going. Pound it inside and get to the line. This is a game where the young guys should finally get some run if we get out to a sizeable lead.

Just win baby!

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

V

 

[YankeeVol]

Important game. Gotta win the road ones against bottom feeders. No slip ups. We owe them a beatdown for last year, too.

I have a feeling this one won't be close

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I have a feeling this one won't be close

I hope you are right. I always get more nervous for these types of games because losing to bad teams tanks your resume. Losing to good teams happens and isn’t a big deal.

 

[YankeeVol]

I hope you are right. I always get more nervous for these types of games because losing to bad teams tanks your resume. Losing to good teams happens and isn’t a big deal.

Of course. I just think the boys will be motivated today.

 

[walkenvol]

If I were to bet this, I’d lay the 15.5. This could get ugly.

 

[orangemadam]

Is coach finally gonna let the young'uns get some minutes?

If so, a little lower scoring game than normal. UT 73-64

 

[OneVolNation]

O

 

[VolArmy74]

Time for revenge for that debacle from last year.

 

[camp_steveo]

Vols hang a hundo on Vandy in their own gym.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Is coach finally gonna let the young'uns get some minutes?

If so, a little lower scoring game than normal. UT 73-64

Depends entirely on if the starters want to let the young guys get minutes. If we blow the doors off Vandy like we should then Estrella and Dillione will get some extra run.

 

[Just a VolinTears]

That gym will always remind me of 2019 Grant's epic, 43 point, 23-23 FT performance. The refs helped us that game with a late flagrant foul (first time refs ever helped us.....?). It was the first game after we were ranked #1, which we proceeded to lay claim to for 4 more weeks!

 

[chuckb1448]

Go Rocky Top, time for some payback in Nashville