The Official #3 Tennessee vs. Arkansas Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN2

[YankeeVol]

#3 Tennessee Volunteers: 14-1 (3-0 SEC)

vs.

Arkansas Razorbacks: 10-5 (1-2 SEC)

GAME 16 | TENNESSEE vs. ARKANSAS - Jan. 15, 2019 | 7:01 p.m. ET | Thompson-Boling Arena (21,678)


Line: UT -16
O/U: 150.5


TV: ESPN2
Radio: Vol Network
Satellite Radio: Sirius: 98, XM: 192
Online: WatchESPN.com

 

[YankeeVol]

THE SERIES

Tennessee's all-time series with Arkansas is tied, 20-20, dating to 1936.

The Vols have an 11-4 edge when the series is played in Knoxville.

The Razorbacks had won six straight over the Vols before UT posted an 84-66 win in the SEC Tournament last season.

 

[YankeeVol]

A WIN WOULD...

Extend Tennessee's win streak to 11 games. The Vols' last 11-game win streak came during the 2007-08 campaign, when UT reeled off 11 straight victories from Nov. 27 through Jan. 19.

Stretch the Vols' home win streak to 18 games, dating to last season (this is the longest home win streak of the Barnes era).

Give Tennessee a winning record in its all-time series with the Razorbacks.

 

[YankeeVol]

STORYLINES

The Volunteers are receiving 13 first-place votes in this week's AP Top 25 poll.

Tennessee's SEC margin of victory through three league games stands at a robust 27 points.

This is Rick Barnes' longest win streak since he led Texas to 11 straight victories from Jan. 11-Feb. 16, 2011.

The Vols have shot 50 percent or better in 12 games this season (and nine of their last 10).

Tennessee has yet to face a double-digit deficit this season.

Tennessee is off to its best 15-game start since also starting the season 14-1 in 2007-08.

With an average attendance of 17,499, Tennessee ranks fourth nationally.

Junior point guard Jordan Bone totaled 124 assists in 35 games last season. He's got 93 assists through 15 games this year.

 

[YankeeVol]

LAYUPS

Grant Williams leads the SEC in scoring (18.9 ppg), ranks second in field-goal percentage (.583), seventh in assists (3.9 apg) and eighth in rebounding (7.9 rpg).

Admiral Schofield is the SEC's second-leading scorer (17.7 ppg), and is shooting .446 from 3-point range.

Williams and Schofield both earned a spot on the 25-man Wooden Award Midseason Watch List.

Kyle Alexander is the SEC's top rebounder during conference play, as he averages 12.0 rebounds per game.

Jordan Bowden leads the Vols and ranks third in the SEC with 19.0 points per game during league play. And he's doing it off the bench.

Junior guard Lamonté Turner, last season's SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year, returned from a left shoulder injury just in time for SEC play. He's averaging 9.0 points per game against league opponents.

 

[YankeeVol]

ABOUT ARKANSAS

The Arkansas Razorbacks (10-5, 1-2 SEC) lost a lot of talent from last year's squad, as the team's top two scorers both graduated. Now, Mike Anderson is trying to rebuild the program with 13 underclassmen and no seniors on the roster.

Anchoring the group is All-SEC forward and projected first-round draft pick Daniel Gafford, leading the team in scoring (17.5 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocks (2.2 bpg). He ranks 11th in the country in field-goal percentage, shooting an impressive .658 clip. The 6-11 sophomore is a monster in the paint with seven double-doubles to pace the SEC.

Mason Jones is another player to keep an eye on. The sophomore guard ranks second on the team in scoring (14.8 ppg), rebounding (4.9 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg).

Freshman guard Isaiah Joe (14.1 ppg, 1.5 spg) rounds out the double-digits scorers for the Razorbacks. Joe is the team's best 3-point shooter, ranking second in the SEC with a .432 3-point field-goal percentage. On the season, he's knocked down 51 shots from beyond the arc.

Jalen Harris (8.8 ppg, 6.5 apg) is the reason the Razorbacks rank second in the SEC in assist/turnover ratio (1.32). The redshirt sophomore is fifth in the nation in that category with a 4.45 ratio.

 

[I Love Lamp]

Getting it started early, I love it YV.

 

[ttocswob]

Sooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeee!!!!

NVM, guess it somewhat tasteless to invoke an opponents rallying cry against them... (blue font)

But then... bacon.... tastes good. GBO!!!

 

[njvols]

It's great to see how many players we have ranked in all the different SEC stat categories.
2019 Player Statistics

 

[gordonr24]

Every time Yank posts these threads, I light up inside.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Isaiah Joe gets my vote for the all-name team.

 

[supersmo18]

Props @YankeeVol for posting the chomp pic at the top of the page

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Wow Top 3 scorers in the SEC! I'm sure Kentucky has done it before but I don't ever remember it.

 

[cardvolfan]

Isaiah Joe gets my vote for the all-name team.

What's his last name?

 

[sport3500]

UT needs to take the ball inside against Gafford and get him in foul trouble early so I would make Alexander an early scoring option tomorrow night.

 

[The Dog]

UT needs to take the ball inside against Gafford and get him in foul trouble early so I would make Alexander an early scoring option tomorrow night.

This is a huge opportunity for Kyle Anderson to show out while being matched up against a first round pick, hell maybe a lottery pick, in Gafford. Of course, the Vols are a complete team, but it would still be impressive if Kyle could out play Gafford and help his chances of getting drafted. Vols in a workman-like, slow beat down of the Razorbacks, 83-70.

 

[Vols All Day]

Barnes will have the boys fired up for the game tomorrow. He mentioned in the presser that they discuss what is going on around college basketball, so I bet he will mention Duke’s loss on their home court to an unranked team before the start of the game tomorrow.

 

[YankeeVol]

Props @YankeeVol for posting the chomp pic at the top of the page

Had to man.

 

[spyfish007]

This is a huge opportunity for Kyle Anderson to show out while being matched up against a first round pick, hell maybe a lottery pick, in Gafford. Of course, the Vols are a complete team, but it would still be impressive if Kyle could out play Gafford and help his chances of getting drafted. Vols in a workman-like, slow beat down of the Razorbacks, 83-70.

Who is Kyle Anderson?

 

[The Dog]

Btw, Kyle Anderson played basketball for UCLA and the Grizzlies. Like I said I'm worn out and typed the wrong last name. But I was out of line with my "blow me" comment, tho. I apologize and I'll see u all tomorrow night, during and after the game

 

[spyfish007]

Btw, Kyle Anderson played basketball for UCLA and the Grizzlies. Like I said I'm worn out and typed the wrong last name. But I was out of line with my "blow me" comment, tho. I apologize and I'll see u all tomorrow night, during and after the game

Fair enough man. I accept. We all have bad days. Hopefully the Vols give you something to make the day better tomorrow. Go Vols!

 

[TennesseeFan07]

With an up tempo style, expect Jordan Bone to have a big game.

 

[tnvols72]

Ark is going to be a victim

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

This is a huge opportunity for Kyle Anderson to show out while being matched up against a first round pick, hell maybe a lottery pick, in Gafford. Of course, the Vols are a complete team, but it would still be impressive if Kyle could out play Gafford and help his chances of getting drafted. Vols in a workman-like, slow beat down of the Razorbacks, 83-70.

Grant Should have no problem getting Gafford into foul trouble I feel. They'll have to put him on Grant or face a huge night from him. Our frontcourt is about as talented mentally as any in the country, Arkansas not so much.

 

[kyvol98]

I am having ham for lunch. Hope the Vols feast on it for dinner tonight.

Containing Gafford is the key. Like the thinking here of just going at him and getting him in foul trouble.