The Vandy Commodores visit the Tennessee basketball Volunteers. Here is our preview.
After Tuesday’s game between these two teams was canceled, Tennessee basketball and the Vanderbilt Commodores are both back on the court for the first time in a week. Vandy travels to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. for this matchup.
Ranked No. 10 in both polls, the Vols were set to visit Nashville Tuesday and face the ‘Dores at Memorial Gymnasium. That was a replacement game, as UT’s original matchup at the South Carolina Gamecocks and Vandy’s matchup with the Missouri Tigers were both canceled due to Mizzou and USC both suffering COVID outbreaks.
However, a COVID issue that affected Vandy forced that game to be canceled as well. Now, they are set to meet in what was one of their originally scheduled matchups to begin with. Here is all the information you need on Tennessee basketball taking the court Saturday.
Live stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Vol Network; Commodore Radio Network
Listen online: UTSports; VUCommodores.com
In their last outing, the Vols’ defense finally returned as they beat the Texas A&M Aggies 68-54. What had been a strength of Rick Barnes’ team all year slumped in the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks, a game they won 79-74, and in their loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Vanderbilt’s last game was an 84-81 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, having lost by just three to the Kentucky Wildcats before that MSU game and by 19 to the Florida Gators.
Led by second-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt did have to replace leading scorers Aaron Nesmith and Saben Lee from last year’s team that went 11-21 and 3-15 in the SEC. However, Nesmith missed the second half of the season anyway, and they do return three other starters, including this year’s leading scorer, Scotty Pippen Jr.
Given their recent two close loss, Vandy is clearly improving. They are not the same team that lost to the Richmond Spiders and the Davidson Wildcats in non-conference play, and after a week off, the Vols have to take them seriously. Up next for Tennessee basketball will be a trip to Florida Tuesday. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, will host the Texas A&M Aggies Wednesday.