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Tennessee basketball: Vols preview, live stream, prediction vs. Missouri Tigers

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 24: Tennessee Volunteers players react in the second half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 24, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 82-80. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 24: Tennessee Volunteers players react in the second half of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 24, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 82-80. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball faces former coach Cuonzo Martin in a huge SEC macth-up in Columbia. Here is the preview for the UT Volunteers and the Mizzou Tigers.

Tennessee basketball (12-4, 3-2) travels to Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers (12-5, 2-2) Wednesday night. This will be the Vols’ first match-up against former head coach Cuonzo Martin since he left the program back in 2014.

This is a game with huge SEC implications. Tennessee is ranked in the Top 25, and Missouri is trying to gain some respect among those voters. Both are Top 40 RPI teams, with Mizzou coming in at No. 36 and Tennessee coming in at No. 13.

Simply put, this is a huge match-up for both teams. Before we preview both teams and give our prediction, here is the information you need for Wednesday night’s game.

No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers at Missouri Tigers

When: Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. E.T.

Where: Mizzou Arena; Columbia, Mo.

TV: SEC Network

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Line: Missouri -1.5

Over/Under: 141.5

TENNESSEE PREVIEW

Tennessee basketball comes into the game riding a three-game winning streak with wins against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M. After a slow start to SEC play (0-2),  the Vols are back to the tough-minded team that coach Rick Barnes intends it to be.

In the past 3 games, Tennessee has held its opponents to 70 points per game. During that three game span, they have forced 13.6 turnovers and out-rebounded their opponents by seven boards a game.

Grant Williams continues to show why he should have been a Coaches Preseason ALL-SEC 1st team selection. Mentioned below, Williams is coming off an SEC Player of the Week honor which displayed a game against Vanderbilt where he carried the Vols to a 92-84 win with 37 points and 7 rebounds while shooting 13-15 from the free throw line.

It would be unfair to not mention junior forward, Admiral Schofield. He has scored 15 points or more in 3 of the last 5 games. In that five-game span, he is shooting a staggering 48% for the 3-point line.

Schofield also has been getting it done on the boards, only 4 rebounds shy from having three double-doubles in the past three games.

MISSOURI

Missouri is trying to get back on track after dropping three of their last 5 games including the most recent loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks, 65-63.

Led by senior guard, Kassius Robertson, the Tigers love and will shoot the basketball from the 3-point line. They are making a league-high 9.6 a game. Robertson is scoring 16 points per game and is shooting 44% from 3-point range.

Fellow senior forward, Jordan Barnett is also shooting over 40% from the 3-point line. Barnett plays over 30 minutes a game and is scoring 15.2 points per game with 6.4 rebounds. Barnett has scored over 15 points in 11 of 17 games this year.

NOTEWORTHY

  • Grant Williams scored 37 points against Vanderbilt last Tuesday night. That is a team high and 3rd highest this year in the SEC.
  • Jordan Barnett ranks 2nd in the SEC in free throw percentage – 92.3%.
  • Tennessee is 3-0 this year in the 9:00 p.m. ET time slot.

PREDICTION

Tennessee basketball has proven that playing in Columbia, Mo. is not something they love to do (1-4). The Vols haven’t won two road SEC games since 2014-2015, but this team is different. This team has the will and guts. That’s what it will take to pull off a win in a tough SEC environment.

Tennessee 76 Missouri 69

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