The Official #3 Tennessee @ Memphis Game Thread, 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2

[YankeeVol]

#3 Tennessee Volunteers: 7-1 (0-0 SEC)

@


Memphis Tigers: 5-4 (0-0 AAC)

GAME 9 | TENNESSEE at MEMPHIS - Dec. 15, 2018 | 12:01 p.m. ET | | FedEx Forum (18,400)


Line: UT -8.5
O/U: 152.5


TV: ESPN2
Radio: Vol Network
Satellite Radio: Sirius: 94, XM: 190
Online: WatchESPN.com

 

[YankeeVol]

THE SERIES

Tennessee leads its all-time series with Memphis 14-11, dating to 1969.

The teams have met 12 times in Memphis, with each team winning six games.

The Vols are 44-39 all-time against current members of the American Athletic Conference.

 

[YankeeVol]

A WIN WOULD…

Extend Tennessee's win streak to four games.

Give Tennessee four straight wins over in-state opponents, dating to last season.

Snap UT's current three-game losing streak to Memphis.

Give the Vols eight wins in their last 11 games away from home, dating to last season.

 

[YankeeVol]

STORYLINES

This is Tennessee's highest AP ranking since it earned the nation's No. 1 spot on Feb. 25, 2008. That ranking came after the Vols beat Memphis, 66-62, in the FedEx Forum two days earlier.

381 miles of I-40 separate these in-state rivals.

This is the first meeting since 2013, as Memphis chose to discontinue the series under former coach Josh Pastner. Rick Barnes and his longtime friend Tubby Smith (now at High Point) agreed to renew the rivalry with a three-game contract that includes a game next year in Knoxville and a clash in Nashville in 2020-21.

Fall semester exams are taking place this week at Tennessee.

As a team, Tennessee leads the SEC in field-goal percentage defense (.368), 3-point field-goal defense (.296), assists per game (21.1 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.8).

 

[YankeeVol]

LAYUP LINES

According to KenPom, Tennessee ranks in the top 15 in both offensive efficiency (15th) and defensive efficiency (13th).

Tennessee has committed fewer turnovers than its opponent in all eight games this season.

Tennessee's 21.1 assists per game rank tied for second nationally.

Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (19.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) and ranks second in field-goal percentage (.574) and seventh in assists (4.6 apg). He also owns the team's best plus-minus per 40 minutes rating at +23.16.

Reigning SEC Co-Player of the Week Admiral Schofield leads the Vols with 19 made 3-pointers this season. He has made at least one 3-pointer in each of UT's last 14 games, dating to last season.

Guard Lamonté Turner remains sidelined with a left shoulder injury. He has only appeared in three games this season.

 

[YankeeVol]

UT's HISTORY VS. PENNY

During his illustrious two-year collegiate career at Memphis (then Memphis State), Penny Hardaway averaged 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

He starred for the Tigers during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. Memphis State faced Tennessee in each of those years, with the coach Wade Houston's Volunteers defeating Penny's Tigers both times.

On Dec. 14, 1991, Tennessee edged the Tigers, 65-64, at the Great American Pyramid. Allan Houston scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and sank two free throws with two seconds left to lift UT to victory. Hardaway finished with 21 point and 10 boards.

On Dec. 6, 1992, Tennessee upset eighth-ranked Memphis State, 70-59, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. Allan Houston led the Vols with 20 points and became UT's second all-time leading scorer during the victory (he became No. 1 during the next game, vs. Syracuse). Hardaway led the way for the Tigers with 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

 

[Power T-Rev]

Memphis gonna learn today

 

[CB4VOLS]

I'm a lifetime Vols fan and a Memphis native. I hope they can stay focused today. The Forum is a proven home court advantage for Memphis. It can get crazy in there.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

We don't give a damn about the whole.... Oh, wait.. Memphis sucks!

 

[TBrown]

VOLS

 

[vols 30]

I'm a lifetime Vols fan and a Memphis native. I hope they can stay focused today. The Forum is a proven home court advantage for Memphis. It can get crazy in there.

That why I think the early start is good for us. Who wants to get rowdy at 11am?

 

[Larkin]

Memphis is getting ready to get roadhoused

 

[Rebel VOL]

Expecting a blow out, I believe the crowd will be taken out early. Me and my 2 boys are headed to the forum in 10 min. Go volz

 

[OleRockyTop]

That why I think the early start is good for us. Who wants to get rowdy at 11am?

I'll get Rowdy in the fourm for them if they don't want to

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

In before "Fulkerson sucks! Bowden needs to sit.".

 

[musolfmj]

Help an old man out. Did not Barnes put the clamps on Schofield shooting threes when he was a freshman, or did I just dream that?

 

[gordonr24]

In Jerry Lee Lewis’ on Beale. There’s lots of orange downtown.

 

[Power T-Rev]

Memphis gonna learn today

 

[ATC_VOL]

 

[ttocswob]

Go Vols! Beat Memphis State, put 'em away early, clear the bench, and get the walk-ons some minutes!

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I don’t know why but I’m a little nervous about this game.

Considering it’s a rivalry game, I expect it to be fairly close.

Hope I’m wrong, go Vols!

 

[DocVOLiday]

just parked and walking over there shortly

getting pumped!!

 

[awaitingawin]

To prove your a top 5 team you have to go into your opponents house and demoralize, frustrate, and own them. We shall see how mentally tough we are today.

 

[Volunt33rs]

GBO, I predict a 78 / 62 victory

 

[Dallasbowlin]

I wnt admiral to shush the crowd if we win so bad lol