The Official #12 Tennessee vs. Gardner-Webb Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network+

#1

YankeeVol

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#1
#12 Tennessee Volunteers: 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
GbPgYeBXgAAA4vG


vs.

Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 0-0 (0-0 BSC)
GZY-_b5XoAAHvqv



GAME 1 | TENNESSEE vs. GARDNER-WEBB - Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 | 7 p.m. ET | Knoxville, Tenn. | Food City Center (21,678)


Line: UT -27.5
O/U: 141.5

TV: SEC Network+/ESPN+ / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen / Live Stats
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM: 137 & 190
Online: ESPN+

Gardner Webb Game Notes


GbithHSXEAAAFeq
 
Last edited:
#2
#2
THE MATCHUP

• This is the third meeting between Tennessee and Gardner-Webb, with the Volunteers winning each of the prior two, both at home.
• The last matchup between the two sides was Rick Barnes' fourth game with UT, an 89-64 victory on 11/22/15. Kevin Punter Jr. (24) and Devon Baulkman (22) combined for 46 points, while Armani Moorehad 15 points and 16 rebounds, the second-most boards and lone 15/15 outing of Barnes' UT tenure.
• Coming off a 17-16 (11-5) campaign in 2023-24, the Runnin' Bulldogs were picked sixth in the Big South.
• Gardner-Webb lost its top five scorers from last year. Its leading returnee is Ademide Badmus, a senior forward who put up 5.6 ppg in 2023-24.
• The Volunteers are 28-0 all-time against the current Big South schools, including 11-0 versus UNC Asheville. They have defeated all nine members at least once.
• Rick Barnes owns a 23-0 record versus the current Big South membership, including a 10-0 ledger at Tennessee. He has beat all nine schools at least once.
 
#3
#3
NEWS & NOTES

• Tennessee has won its last three season openers, all at home, by a combined 98 points. It won by 28 in 2021-22, by 32 in 2022-23 and by 38 in 2023-24, good for an average of 32.7 points per game.
• The Volunteers are 34-3 (.919) all-time in home openers at Food City Center, dating back to 1987- 88. They are 31-1 (.969) over their last 32 such games, including 8-1 (.889) under Rick Barnes. The average attendance in the 36 non- COVID-season home openers is 16,785, with eight over 20,000.
• Tennessee placed third in the SEC preseason media poll, its third year in a row in the top three and seventh straight in the top five. The Volunteers also came in at No. 12 nationally in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, their fifth consecutive year in the preseason top-20 of each.
• The Volunteers added four transfers: two fifth-year guards, a senior forward and a junior forward. They own a combined 3,356 collegiate points across 372 outings, with three of them all- conference selections in 2023-24.
• Tennessee, aided by a 13-2 stretch, is coming off a year in which it won its 11th SEC regular season crown, including its sixth outright title. The Volunteers then, as a No. 2 seed, went on to earn their second Elite Eight berth.
• The Volunteers finished fifth in both major national polls in 2023- 24. The AP mark tied their best closing spot ever (2021-22, 2007- 08) and the Coaches Poll broke the program record (seventh in 2007-08). Tennessee also placed fifth in KenPom, surpassing the prior year (sixth in 2022-23) for its best mark ever.
• UT went 27-9 last year, marking the the third time in the last six years (2018-24) under Rick Barnes it won 27-plus games. It hit that tally twice before his arrival.
• The 171 wins for Tennessee over the last seven years (2017-24) rank co-eighth nationally and mark the highest total in a seven- year stretch in program history. Only Kansas (191), Duke (185), Purdue (182) and Virginia (176) have more among schools in a Power Six league that entire time.
 
#4
#4
TENNESSEE TABBED THIRD

• Tennessee placed third in the SEC preseason poll, as voted on by a select panel of league and national media members.
• Only the two Yellowhammer State schools, Alabama and Auburn, finished above Tennessee in the voting.
• This is the third straight year the Volunteers took a top-three position in the preseason media poll, the only school that can make such a claim. Tennessee held the top spot in 2023-24 and indeed went on to win the league title. In 2022-23, UT took third-place in the voting.
• Tennessee has claimed a top-five spot in the preseason media poll seven consecutive years, dating back to the 2018-19 edition.
 
#5
#5
WINNING WAYS

• Over the last seven seasons (2017-24), Tennessee paces all SEC programs in total wins (171) and is tied for first in postseason victories (18), while placing a narrow second in winning percentage (.722). In that span, UT has three SEC titles, winning the regular season in 2018 and 2024, as well as the 2022 tournament.
• In that same seven-year stretch, the Vols are one of only two SEC schools with an overall winning percentage of over .700, alongside Auburn (.723).
• In SEC play over the same seven-year period, Tennessee (86-39; .688) is second in the league, behind Kentucky (87-38; .696), in both victories and winning percentage. Only Auburn (81-45; .643) and Alabama (78-48; .619) have even 70-plus wins.
• Over just the last three seasons (2021-24), UT owns a 79-28 (.7383) overall record. That is good for the most victories and the best winning percentage of any SEC team in that span. Auburn ranks second at 76-27 (.7379) during that time.
• In that same three-year span, Tennessee (39-15; .722) is tied with Kentucky for the best record in conference play among SEC teams.
 
#6
#6
PRESEASON PLAUDITS

• Zakai Zeigler collected Preseason First Team All-SEC recognition from the media, alongside Auburn's Johni Broome, Florida's Walter Clayton Jr., Alabama's Mark Sears and Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV.
• In addition, Zeigler was one of five individuals to earn votes for SEC Preseason Player of the Year, joining Sears (the designee), Broome, Taylor and Georgia's Asa Newell.
• This is the third year in a row Zeigler, a second-team choice in advance of both the 2023-24 and 2022-23 campaigns, garnered Preseason All-SEC honors from the media. He is the fourth such three-time selection in UT history, joining Allan Houston (first team in each of 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93), Tony Harris (first team in each 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01) and Tyler Smith (second team in 2007-08, first team in both 2008-09 and 2009-10).
• The league's coaches also labeled Zeigler a Preseason First Team All-SEC choice, placing him alongside the same four players. It marked his third consecutive year receiving that distinction, the only such player in the league.
• Zeigler earned Preseason Second Team All-America plaudits from the Blue Ribbon Yearbook. The other second-team choices were Broome, Taylor, Duke's Cooper Flagg and Purdue's Braden Smith. He was named a Preseason Third Team All-American by ESPN's Jay Bilas.
• After finishing as a Midseason Top 10 List selection last year, Zakai Zeigler was named to the Bob Cousy Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List this season. In addition, Chaz Lanier earned a spot on the Jerry West Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List.
• In addition, Zeigler earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List. He was one of nine SEC players to make the cut.
 
#10
#10
From what I understand, we still plan to rotate a few lineups tonight rather than start and sub until the lead is crazy. Still trying to crack some chemistry. I’d look for our inside guys to have a big night. We’ve been pretty obsessive about shot creation inside during the last week of practice.
 
#16
#16
#12 Tennessee Volunteers: 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
GbPgYeBXgAAA4vG


vs.

Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 0-0 (0-0 BSC)
GZY-_b5XoAAHvqv



GAME 1 | TENNESSEE vs. GARDNER-WEBB - Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 | 7 p.m. ET | Knoxville, Tenn. | Food City Center (21,678)


Line: UT -27.5
O/U: 141.5

TV: SEC Network+/ESPN+ / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen / Live Stats
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM: 137 & 190
Online: ESPN+

Gardner Webb Game Notes


GbithHSXEAAAFeq

Tennessee beat writer Mike Wilson predicts that the team will make a Sweet 16 run this season.

I predict a second straight Elite 8 appearance with a possible Final Four run.

Thoughts from the board?
 
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#17
#17
Tennessee beat writer Mike Wilson predicts that the team will make a Sweet 16 run this season.

I predict a second straight Elite 8 appearance with a possible Final Four run.

Thoughts from the board?
I don't see how they can possibly replace the talent they lost since last year's Elite 8 run. Sweet 16 would be fabulous
 
#20
#20
Tennessee beat writer Mike Wilson predicts that the team will make a Sweet 16 run this season.

I predict a second straight Elite 8 appearance with a possible Final Four run.

Thoughts from the board?
Way too early to truly tell, but just going by what I’ve seen so far, I’d say we are a sweet 16 level team and that would be a good year for this squad. Of course that could change depending on how certain guys come a long as the season progresses.
 
#22
#22
To be honest the tournament can be a rough way to evaluate a season. How they finish in the SEC is probably more like it. If we finish above KY that's a good barometer for me
 
#23
#23
From what I understand, we still plan to rotate a few lineups tonight rather than start and sub until the lead is crazy. Still trying to crack some chemistry. I’d look for our inside guys to have a big night. We’ve been pretty obsessive about shot creation inside during the last week of practice.
Really is a solid front court size wise against most squads. Especially against a Garner Webb. Trying to decipher that rotate, start and sub first part. But I hope it leads to Zz starting but sitting early. lol
 
#24
#24
Really is a solid front court size wise against most squads. Especially against a Garner Webb. Trying to decipher that rotate, start and sub first part. But I hope it leads to Zz starting but sitting early. lol
Sorry. Poorly worded. I mean that they are trying out different full lineups (three forwards, two guards out, a small lineup etc) to see if they can uncover some chemistry in those lineups. In a week or two, we’ll be subbing single players more to give starters a rest. Tonight, we may still be looking for lineups that play well together outside the starting lineup.
 

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