Tennessee basketball: Vols preview, live stream, prediction at Iowa State Cyclones
Tennessee basketball visits the Iowa State Cyclones in the SEC vs. Big 12 challenge. Here is the preview and streaming information for the Volunteers.
Tennessee basketball (14-5, 5-3 SEC) is riding a two-game winning streak as it heads to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State (11-8, 2-6 Big 12) Saturday. This game will be The Vols’ only road game before heading home for a two-game homestand against LSU and Ole Miss.
Saturday’s match-up is part of the fifth annual Big 12/SEC Challenge. This challenge showcases Big 12 teams against SEC teams in a set of mid-season games. The Big 12 has dominated the past four years with a 25-15 record. The Vols, however, have been successful beating Kansas State twice and losing to TCU for a 2-1 record in the challenge.
Tennessee basketball is coming off of a win against in-state rival Vanderbilt. The win marks the fifth win in the last six games. The Vols are looking to keep the momentum going against the Cyclones.
As for Iowa State, they are having a roller-coaster season. Last Saturday they beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders by 18 points. At the time the Red Raiders were ranked 8th in the nation. After the stunning home win, Iowa State turns around and looks flat losing to Texas by 16 points. The Cyclones play their best basketball at home so the Vols should fully expect a 40-minute fight.
In the latest bracketology, by Joe Lunardi, Tennessee basketball is a No. 5 seed in the Midwest region playing Buffalo. The Vols have an opportunity to continue to wins games and improve their tournament resume. Before we preview both teams and give our prediction, here is the information you need for Saturday’s game.
No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers at Iowa State
When: Saturday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. E.T.
Where: Hilton Coliseum; Ames, Iowa
TV: ESPNU
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Line: Tennessee -2.5
Over/Under: 146
TENNESSEE PREVIEW
The win against Vanderbilt marks the first time the Vols swept the season series since the 2012-2013 season. It didn’t come easy though.
Tennessee took a 32-15 led to the half and was in control the entire first half. The Vols held Vandy to 29% shooting and appeared to be running away with the game. Or at least that’s what Vols fans thought.
Much like the South Carolina game, the first half defense was impeccable but the second half was a different story. Vanderbilt got hot from the 3-point line erased a 20-point deficit to a one-possession game with 2:03 left in the game. It wasn’t always pretty, but Tennessee basketball found a way to win. When it comes to March and seeding it isn’t going to matter what the score was; it is only going to matter that the Vols pulled out the win.
Jordan Bowden finally had the game Vol fans have been waiting to see. After a two-game skid, Bowden bounced back in a big way. A big 3-point shot fell in the 1st half, and we could see through the television a sigh of relief from Bowden’s face. He chipped in for 19 points and shot 5-7 from 3-point range.
Big man Derrick Walker played his second game in a row where he received significantly more minutes in the Vols new-look rotation. With Walker playing more of a role the production has followed. Against Vanderbilt, he provided five points, six rebounds, and connected on clutch free throws down the stretch. Watch for Walker to continue to get his feet wet in upcoming games.
IOWA STATE PREVIEW
Iowa State started the season 9-2 with wins against Iowa, Boise State, and Northern Iowa. Once conference play began, the Cyclones fell apart. Starting 0-4 in the Big 12 before getting their first win against the Baylor Bears. Iowa State currently sits at the bottom of the Big 12 with a 2-6 conference record.
There should be quite the intriguing match-up from the guard position. Freshman, Lindell Wigginton, and senior, Donovan Jackson led the Cyclones in scoring. Wigginton, the 6-2 freshman, has been on a tear the past five games. He scored 27 against Kansas and followed that with a 30-point performance against Baylor. The Vols defense will have to be smothering to keep Wigginton from making a difference in the game.
Another player that could have a considerable impact on the outcome of the game is Nick Babb. His production is off the charts this season. He is averaging 12.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game. The kids can do everything, and he is everywhere on the court.
WATER-COOLER CHAT
- Tennessee has five losses on the season. All teams that defeated the Volunteers are currently rank in the top-50 of RPI.
- Kyle Alexander has statically outperformed his production from last season. He already has more points, steals, blocks, and assists at this point in the season than all of last year. He also has 11 blocks in the past four games.
- Dating back to the start of SEC play last season Grant Williams has appeared in 39 games. He has scored in double digits in 32 of those games. This year he only has two games in which he did not have double-digit scoring.
PREDICTION
The SEC has a lot to prove this weekend as most of the conference is playing in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Fortunately, for the Vols, they draw Iowa State instead of Kansas or Oklahoma and freshman phenom, Trae Young.
No doubt the Vols will have their hands full, but I like for their hot shooting to continue and pull out a 66-58 win.