Mizzou Tigers basketball vs. Tennessee Volunteers: TV, tipoff time and a prediction
THE DETAILS
Tipoff: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
TV: SEC Network
Radio: KMBZ (98.1 FM)
PROJECTED LINEUPS
P | No. | Tennessee | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 10 | John Fulkerson | 6-9 | R-Jr. | 11.2 |
F | 35 | Yves Pons | 6-6 | Jr. | 11.7 |
G | 23 | Jordan Bowden | 6-5 | Sr. | 12.2 |
G | 0 | Josiah-Jordan James | 6-6 | Fr. | 7.7 |
G | 25 | Santiago Vescovi | 6-3 | Fr. | 18.0 |
P | No. | Missouri | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 23 | Jeremiah Tilmon | 6-10 | Jr. | 9.0 |
F | 5 | Mitchell Smith | 6-10 | R-Jr. | 3.8 |
F | 24 | Kobe Brown | 6-7 | Fr. | 5.5 |
G | 12 | Dru Smith | 6-3 | R-Jr. | 11.7 |
G | 13 | Mark Smith | 6-5 | Jr. | 11.5 |
About Tennessee (8-5, 0-1 SEC): The Volunteers are struggling and it won’t get any easier. They’ve lost four of their last five games, including their SEC opener 78-64 to LSU on Saturday. Tennessee lost guard Lamonte Turner, its second leading scorer, when he announced he needed season-ending shoulder surgery two weeks ago. Look out for guard Santiago Vescovi, who scored 18 points in his Vols debut against LSU. He was cleared by the NCAA on Friday evening as a midyear enrollee, then started the next day. KenPom ranks the Vols at No. 54.
About Missouri (8-5, 0-1 SEC): The Tigers’ four-game winning streak was snapped at Kentucky’s Rupp Arena in a 71-59 loss. It was the second most points Mizzou allowed this season. Forward Jeremiah Tilmon made his return from a foot injury against the Wildcats, though foul trouble slowed him down. Mizzou has defended well this season, allowing 56.8 points per game, No. 6 in the nation. Mark Smith and Dru Smith are still crucial for Mizzou, as they rely on the duo to produce. KenPom has Mizzou at 52nd.
Prediction: After a 7-1 start, the Vols are trending downward. At their peak, they looked like an NCAA Tournament team. Now, that seems to be up in the air depending on how conference play goes. This is the type of game the Tigers must capitalize on to pick up conference victories. We’ll say Mizzou wins this one against a free-falling opponent, a crucial win in its first SEC game at home this season. It’ll build momentum ahead of a weekend clash against what has been a disappointing Florida Gators team.
Missouri 66, Tennessee 60