Fresh off an impressive top 25 win against the Georgia Bulldogs, 74-56, Wednesday, Tennessee is back on the road Saturday. The Vols head west on I-40 to the capital of the Volunteer state to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in another brutal SEC matchup.
UT, ranked No. 6 in both polls with a 16-1 overall record and 3-1 SEC record, continues its run of every conference game either being against a ranked team or on the road against a team with a .700 winning percentage or better. Vandy comes into the game 14-3 and 2-2 in league play.
Led by first-year head coach Mark Byington, the ‘Dores are coming off a close 66-63 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks this past Wednesday. That snapped a two-game losing streak. Here is the all the information you need for this huge Saturday afternoon matchup.
Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Commodores
When: Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Memorial Gymnasium; Nashville, Tenn.
TV: SEC Network
Live stream: ESPN.com
Radio: Vol Network (click here for affiliates); Vanderbilt Sports Network (click here for affiliates)
Listen online: UTSports; Vanderbilt Athletics
Vanderbilt’s regular rotation consists of nine players who are all new to the program, eight of whom are transfers and one of whom is a freshman. None of them are averaging more than 26 minutes a game either, so they use their depth well.
North Texas Mean Green transfer guard Jason Edwards leads the way averaging 17 points per game. Michigan State Spartans transfer A.J. Hoggard runs the show at point guard and is averaging 11 points and nearly four and a half assists per game. Boston College Eagles transfer forward mans the post, averaging 10.9 points and just over eight rebounds a game.
On Tennessee’s side, the Vols beat Georgia with a 30-4 run Wednesday in which Zakai Zeigler contributed directly or indirectly to 26 of the points. He had six steals in the game to set the program record for career steals, now with 215.
Up next for Rick Barnes’ team after this game is a visit Tuesday from the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is back on the road Tuesday to visit the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 5 in the Coaches Poll.
