Game prediction and betting odds for KU basketball vs. Tennessee on Wednesday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU meets Tennessee in Players Era third-place game in Las Vegas Wednesday.
- Tennessee controls glass and defends efficiently but commits many turnovers.
- Kansas relies on rebounding, interior scoring and Council’s defense to win.
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team plays Tennessee on Wednesday evening in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas. The matchup is the third-place game in the tournament.
The Jayhawks (5-2) beat Syracuse on Tuesday, while Tennessee beat Houston.
The Jayhawks lead the all-time series 5-3, with KU winning the most recent matchup in 2023.
Here is a scouting report and prediction for Tuesday’s showdown:
Kansas basketball vs. Tennessee: Game details
When: 6 p.m. Central, Wednesday
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas)
TV/streaming: TNT
Opponent’s record: 7-0
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 10
Betting line: Tennessee by 3.5
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition
Tennessee Strengths
- Elite defenders: The Vols rank No. 14 in opponent effective field goal percentage (42.4%)
- A deep rotation: Tennessee coach Rick Barnes is not afraid to play his bench, ranking No. 23 in bench minutes percentage (41.5%)
- Glass savants: The Vols rank No. 1 in offensive rebounding percentage (48.2)
Tennessee Weaknesses
- Turnover prone: Tennessee ranks No. 251 in turnover percentage (19.4)
- Don’t take many 3-pointers: The Vols rank No. 255 in 3-point rate (36.2)
- Don’t draw fouls: Tennessee ranks No. 172 in free-throw rate (37.4)
Tennessee Name to Know
6-foot senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (No. 0)
+ Elite scorer (19.2 PPG)
+ Solid rebounder (2.6 RPG)
+ Quality passer (5.7 APG)
+ Excellent shooter (40.8% on 3-pointers)
- Turnover prone (3.5 TPG)
- OK at the line (shooting 72.2% on free throws)
Kansas-Tennessee game prediction
This should be a fun ending to an action-packed Players Era tournament.
Not to mention, this feels eerily familiar: Kansas is yet again facing Tennessee during Thanksgiving week, for the third time in this decade.
Although the Vols are favored, Kansas matches up relatively well against them. Tennessee’s biggest strengths are offensive rebounding and defense.
Since Bryson Tiller has entered the starting lineup, the Jayhawks’ rebounding is much improved. He, Flory Bidunga and Tre White have done an excellent job of corralling rebounds and boxing out opponents.
The biggest worry Kansas will have is its half-court offense.
Tennessee plays great defense without fouling, so KU will need to ride the hot hands of Bidunga and Tiller — both of whom have played well in this tournament by scoring in the post.
Meanwhile, lead guard Melvin Council will likely match up against Vols star Ja’Kobi Gillespie. Council is a great one-on-one defender, but the Jayhawks’ entire starting lineup is filled with capable defenders. So whoever ends up on Gillespie should be capable of making life difficult.
The Vols will be KU’s toughest opponent since Duke, especially without Darryn Peterson. That said, I believe Kansas should come out on top based on what we’ve seen from the Jayhawks in this tournament and how well they match up here.
Kansas 70, Tennessee 66
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (+3.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 6-1
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 5-2
KU Player to Watch: Melvin Council
The St. Bonaventure transfer has given the Jayhawks everything this season besides efficient shooting. Even against Syracuse, he dropped 14 points ... on 3-for-15 shooting from the field.
He’s never going to be a super efficient shooter, but he can’t be that bad against the Vols. On defense, he needs to contain Gillespie. And then if he can give eight to 10 points of his own, that’ll be a bonus.
That type of production could swing the game KU’s way.
