The Official #1 Tennessee @ Illinois Game Thread, 5:30 PM ET, FOX

#1
YankeeVol

YankeeVol

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#1
#1 Tennessee Volunteers: 9-0 (0-0 SEC)
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Illinois Fighting Illini: 7-2 (1-1 B10)
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GAME 10 | TENNESSEE at ILLINOIS- Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. ET | Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center (15,500)


Line: UT -1.5
O/U: 147.5

TV: Fox / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen / Live Stats
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM: 81
Online: WatchESPN.com


Illinois Game Notes


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#2
#2
THE MATCHUP
• Each of the four games in the all-time series, which returned last season after a 35-year hiatus, have been won by the home team. Tennessee claimed victories on 12/15/67 and 12/10/85, followed by an Illinois victory on 1/17/88 and a Tennessee win on 12/9/23.
• After a 29-9 (14-6) showing that included an Elite Eight trip, the Fighting Illini were picked fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll.
• Freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis paces Illinois with 15.4 ppg, 5.4 apg and 1.4 spg.
• Tennessee is 34-44 all-time versus the current Big Ten schools. Illinois (3-1), Rutgers (2-0) and Southern Cal (5-3) are the three such schools it is multiple games over .500 against.
• Rick Barnes owns an even 40- 40 record versus the current Big Ten membership. He is 7-8 in his Tennessee tenure, including 6-5 in the regular season, with the wins against seven different schools.
• The Vols are one of just 14 Power Five teams playing two true non- conference road games versus fellow Power Five programs.
 
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#3
#3
NEWS & NOTES
• This is one of five non-conference matchups between 2024 Elite Eight teams, including one of two at a campus site. The others are Alabama/Illinois (N), Alabama at Purdue, Duke/Illinois (N) and NC State/Purdue (N).
• Tennessee is among just seven undefeated DI schools, joining Drake, Florida, Loyola Chicago, Oklahoma, UC Irvine and Utah State. Only UT is also unbeaten in women's basketball.
• Tennessee is 9-2 all-time as the No. 1 team in the AP Poll. It is 8-1 under Rick Barnes (7-1 in 2018-19, 1-0 in 2023-24) and was 1-1 under Bruce Pearl (1-1 in 2007-08). This is the first time UT is playing a non-conference true road game as the nation's top team.
• Furthermore, UT is 22-4 all-time as an AP top-three team, including 19-2 under Barnes. Its lone prior non-conference true road game while in the AP top three was a 66-62 win at No. 1 Memphis on 2/23/08, while ranked No. 2.
• In the last five games, Chaz Lanier is averaging 23.4 ppg, with 18-plus in each and 22-plus in four.
• In Tennessee's first nine games, it led for 339:48 of a possible 360 minutes and trailed for only 6:38.
• Through nine outings, UT's largest deficit is three points. Meanwhile, it has held a lead of at least 18 points in each game, including an edge of 26-plus in all but one, and won each by at least 13.
• The Vols are seeking their fifth 10-0 start and first in 25 years. The others were in 1999-2000 (11- 0), 1997-98 (10-0), 1922-23 (14-0) and 1915-16 (finished 12-0).
• UT is seeking its 12th double-digit winning streak, including its 10th in a single season. Its last such streak was 19 in a row in 2018-19.
• Tennessee's 180 wins over the last eight years (2017-25) rank co-eighth nationally, alongside Liberty and Saint Mary's. Only Gonzaga (220), Houston (214), Kansas (198), Duke (193), Purdue (190), San Diego State (184) and Virginia (181) possess more.
• At 815-415, Rick Barnes is 400 games over .500 in his career and one victory away from tying Rollie Massimino for No. 12 on the all-time DI wins list
 
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#4
#4
WINNING WAYS
• Over the last eight seasons (2017-25), Tennessee paces all SEC programs in total wins (180) and overall winning percentage (.732), plus is tied for first in postseason victories (18). In that span, UT has three SEC titles (2018 and 2024 regular seasons, 2022 tournament).
• In that same eight-year stretch, the Vols are one of only three SEC teams with an overall winning percentage above even .650, alongside Auburn (.730) and Kentucky (.705).
• In SEC play over the same eight-year period, Tennessee (86-39; .688) is second in the league, behind Kentucky (87-38; .696), in both victories and winning percentage. Only Auburn (81-45; .643) and Alabama (78-48; .619) have even 70-plus wins.
• Over just the last four seasons (2021-25), the Volunteers own an 88-28 (.759) overall record, that is good for the most victories and best winning percentage in the SEC over that span.
• In that same four-year span, Tennessee (39-15; .722) is tied with Kentucky for the best record in conference play among SEC teams.
 
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#5
#5
POLL PRESENCE
• Tennessee has played 212 games as a ranked team in the AP Poll in Rick Barnes' tenure, posting a 160-52 (.755) record. Over 67.0 percent of the Volunteers' 312 games since Barnes arrived in 2015- 16 have come with the team ranked in the AP Poll, all since 2017-18 (212 of 246, 86.2 percent).
• UT is 139-47 (.747) while in the AP top 20 under Barnes, 108-34 (.761) while top-15, 82-25 (.766) while top-10, 38-12 (.760) while top-five, 19-2 (.905) while top-three and 8-1 (.889) while No. 1.
• The Vols are 29-22 (.569) in AP top-25 matchups under Barnes, including 23-15 (.605) with both teams in the top 20, 14-9 (.609) with both in the top 15 and 7-6 (.538) with both in the top 10.
 
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#6
#6
DYNAMITE "D" A UT TRADEMARK
• Tennessee, through 12/11/24, ranks second nationally in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (88.8), behind only Duke (88.6).
• The Volunteers finished third in 2023-24 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (90.2) and placed fifth in DI in field-goal percentage defense (39.4).
• In 2022-23, Tennessee led the nation in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (87.5), holding the top spot for 15 total weeks. The Vols also led all DI teams in 3-point defense (26.5) that year, as well as ranked third in both scoring defense (57.9) and field-goal percentage defense (37.3).
• In five of the last seven seasons (2017-24), UT has finished top-10 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency: third in 2023-24, first in 2022-23, third in 2021-22, fifth in 2020-21 and sixth in 2017-18.
• UT, through 12/12/24, has won 39 times in a row when holding its foe under 60 points, including posting a dazzling 22-0 mark in 2022-23.
• The Vols, through 12/12/24, have won 48 straight when allowing 50 points or fewer, since 12/29/12. That includes 12 such victories in 2022-23, matching Houston for the most of any team that season.
 
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#7
#7
HIGH-CALIBER COMPANY
• Tennessee and Kansas are the only two schools to earn an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons (2021-25). Only two others, Arizona and Purdue, entered 2024-25 with a three-year streak.
• The Volunteers are one of only four teams to reach the AP top six in each of the past five seasons, alongside Alabama, Houston and Kansas.
• UT is one of just five programs to reach the AP top six in at least six of the last seven seasons (2018- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Kentucky. Those are also the only five schools to enter the AP top five in at least five different years during that stretch.
• The Vols are among only seven teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
• Over that same seven-year stretch (2018-25), UT is also one of seven teams to claim an AP top-two position in at least three seasons, alongside Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Purdue.
• Tennessee is one of just six schools to earn an AP top-20 ranking in each of the past eight years (2017- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina. Just three others—Houston, Michigan State and Purdue—have even reached the AP top 25 in each of those seasons.
• Additionally, over the last three seasons (2022- 25), the Vols are one of just five teams to reach the AP top two in multiple seasons, joining Alabama, Connecticut, Kansas and Purdue.
 
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#16
#16
If Lanier scores 20+ shooting at similar percentages he has done of late, then we’re going to be a tough out! But, it’s college basketball yada, yada - it’s a road game yada, yada

One thing I’d bet on is that Mashack will lock down their freshman guard! Is there a line on that?
 
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#18
#18
The Line tells you this game is a tossup. It is very difficult to win on the road vs a good team, especially one that is hosting the #1 Tennessee Vols. If UT gets out of Champaign with a W, we can really get excited. Interesting that State Farm is a long time supporter of the VOLS, (John Ward--"Brought to you by State Farm"). but headquartered in Bloomington Ill; and obviously the ILL arena's title sponsor.
 
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#22
#22
The defense has to show up from tipoff for this game. Their coach, if I remember correctly, likes to play the refs. I was at the game at TBA last year and he definitely like to piss and moan. Our big has to shut down their big or get home m in foul trouble, early. VOLS win, close, maybe a little, too close.
 
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