The Official #6 Tennessee vs. #23 Georgia Game Thread, 8:00 PM ET, SEC Network

#1
YankeeVol

YankeeVol

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#1
#6 Tennessee Volunteers: 15-1 (2-1 SEC)
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vs.

#23 Georgia Bulldogs: 14-2 (2-1 SEC)
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GAME 17 | TENNESSEE vs. GEORGIA - Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 | 8 p.m. ET | Knoxville, Tenn. | Food City Center (21,678)


Line: UT -11.5
O/U: 133.5

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


Georgia Game Notes

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#2
#2
THE MATCHUP

• The Volunteers' 99 wins over Georgia are their second-most against any school, trailing only their 131 against Vanderbilt.
• This is the first time in series history both sides are in the AP top 25. It is also the first time UT faces a ranked Georgia team since 2/8/03, a 78-72 home win.
• UT is 6-1 in its last seven outings versus Georgia after going 2-9 in the prior 11 (with defeats in each of the five before the current seven-game span). The Vols were ranked in all six wins in this stretch and unranked in the lone loss.
• Last season, on 1/13/24 at Georgia, Tennessee trailed by 11 with under seven minutes to go, but closed on a 21-4 run in the last 6:08, including a 15-1 ledger in the final 4:49, to win by six, 85-79. Dalton Knecht dropped 36 points, including 20 in the second half.
• Coming off a 20-17 (6-12) showing that included an NIT semifinal berth, Georgia placed No. 12 in the SEC preseason poll.
• Freshman forward Asa Newell leads the Bulldogs with 15.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg.
 
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#3
#3
NEWS & NOTES

• Tennessee's 12 matchups with Mike White are its sixth-most against any active head coach.
• UT Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dr. Daniel J. White (Danny) is the younger brother of Georgia head coach Mike White. Both played college basketball: Danny at Towson and Notre Dame, Mike at Ole Miss. The Volunteers fell to Florida, where Mike then worked, two days before Danny was hired on 1/21/21, but are 5-1 against him since then. More information on the White family can be found on Page 7.
• Rick Barnes and Mike White both joined the SEC in 2015-16. Barnes is 10-2 against White, posting an 8-2 ledger during the latter's time at Florida (2015-22) and winning both matchups between their current schools.
• Georgia sophomore guard Blue Cain is a native of Knoxville, Tenn., and went to Knoxville Catholic for his first three years of high school.
• Tennessee is 18-7 (.720) versus AP top-25 teams at home under Rick Barnes, including 13-1 (.929) in the last 14 such games, since 1/30/21.
• Tennessee is looking to start at least 3-1 in SEC play for the fifth time in seven years, including the third in a row.
• UT is also seeking a 2-0 start in SEC home play for the fifth time in seven years and fourth in a row.
• Zakai Zeigler is seven assists away from 600, while his 209 steals put him three shy of Santiago Vescovi's program record (212).
• UT's DI-best 24.8 3P% defense is 1.8 percent better than second- place Southeast Missouri State (26.6). That is the same gap as No. 2 to No. 19 Kentucky (28.4).
• Igor Miličić Jr., is one of 10 Power Five players averaging at least 10.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.0 apg. The others are Oumar Ballo, Brooks Barnhizer, Johni Broome, Hunter Dickinson, Collin Murray-Boyles, Great Osobor, Ian Schieffelin, Thomas Sorber and Danny Wolf.
• The Volunteers' 186 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-seventh nationally, alongside Saint Mary's. Only Gonzaga (227), Houston (220), Kansas (203), Duke (199), Purdue (195) and San Diego State (187) possess more.
 
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#4
#4
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 in that stretch.
• The Vols are among only eight teams to reach the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll in at least two of the last seven seasons (2018-25), joining Auburn, 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 seven schools to earn an AP top-20 ranking in each of the past eight years (2017- 25), alongside Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina. Just two others— Houston and Purdue—have even reached the AP top 25 in each of those seasons.
• Additionally, over the last three years (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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#5
#5
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES

• TOP 25: In the past four years (2021-25), Tennessee has an SEC-best 22 AP top-25 wins, good for fourth nationally,. It is behind just Kansas (24), Connecticut (23) and Iowa State (23). Only Purdue (21) is even within one of the Volunteers, while the closest SEC school is two behind (Alabama with 20).
• TOP 20: Tennessee possesses an SEC-high 19 AP top-20 wins over that span, the third-most of any DI school, trailing only Connecticut (22) and Kansas (21). The only other schools with even 17-plus are Purdue (18) and Iowa State (17). The closest SEC program is two shy (Alabama with 16).
• TOP 15: The Volunteers own an SEC-best 16 AP top-15 decisions over those four seasons, good for second-most in the country, trailing just Kansas (19). Only Alabama (14) and Iowa State (14) are even within two of Tennessee.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns eight AP top-10 triumphs, co-second in the SEC and co- sixth nationally, alongside Alabama and North Carolina. Only Connecticut (11), Iowa State (11), Kansas (11), Purdue (10) and Kentucky (nine) have more. The eight such wins in that time are against #1 Alabama (2/15/23), #3 Kansas (11/25/22), #3 Auburn (2/26/22), #4 Kentucky (2/15/22), #5 Kentucky (3/12/22), #6 Arizona (12/22/21), #10 Texas (1/28/23) and at #10 Kentucky (2/3/24).
• TOP FIVE: In that same four-year span, UT has five AP top-five wins, tied with Alabama, Arizona and Iowa State for the most in the country. Only two other schools, Gonzaga and Purdue, have even four.
 
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#6
#6
HAPPY AT HOME

• Over the last five seasons, since 2020-21, the Volunteers are 66-7 (.904) on their home court.
• In 10 seasons under head coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee is 131-24 (.845) at Food City Center. Twice during the Barnes era, UT has gone undefeated at home: 18-0 in 2018-19 and 16-0 in 2021-22.
 
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#10
#10
Still crazy how deep the SEC is this year. This 3 game stretch we have Georgia ranked 23rd and 14-2, then you’re on the road at Vanderbilt who considers you their biggest rival and then back home against a 15th ranked Mississippi State team, and that’s one of the easier 3 game stretches in conference play you get.
 
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#14
#14
Well UGA beating TN at home is a long shot. I expect that the Vols will be extra motivated in their first game at home since that disaster against the Gators.

I’m just very happy that at the moment GA is playing like they might earn a spot in the Dance! Just getting there is a big deal for me considering where GA basketball has been. My worry is that with the SEC having so many good teams it is going to be tough. Gotta win at home and perhaps steal 1or 2 on the road.

On a different note, I actually pulled for you guys towards the end of last season. I enjoyed watching Knecht play and I became a big ZZ fan. That kid is small, but he is an absolute baller!!! Ziegler is by far my favorite player in the country that isn’t a Dawg.

Anyway, I hope for a good game tonight, but I realize the situation. It would be awesome if we could steal one against you guys, but I’ll be content if we can keep this one interesting late.
 
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#16
#16
DirtyDawg said:
Well UGA beating TN at home is a long shot. I expect that the Vols will be extra motivated in their first game at home since that disaster against the Gators.

I’m just very happy that at the moment GA is playing like they might earn a spot in the Dance! Just getting there is a big deal for me considering where GA basketball has been. My worry is that with the SEC having so many good teams it is going to be tough. Gotta win at home and perhaps steal 1or 2 on the road.

On a different note, I actually pulled for you guys towards the end of last season. I enjoyed watching Knecht play and I became a big ZZ fan. That kid is small, but he is an absolute baller!!! Ziegler is by far my favorite player in the country that isn’t a Dawg.

Anyway, I hope for a good game tonight, but I realize the situation. It would be awesome if we could steal one against you guys, but I’ll be content if we can keep this one interesting late.
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Why don't you all just lose tonight... then upset Auburn, and go win your next 3 road games after that instead?

I actually like White and thought Georgia was smart to make that hire when he became available. In basketball at least I'll pull for Georgia over the rest of the SEC teams. Personally very thankful we get this game at TBA and don't have to play in Stegeman this year.
 
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#20
#20
MoCo_Vol said:
Why don't you all just lose tonight... then upset Auburn, and go win your next 3 road games after that instead?

I actually like White and thought Georgia was smart to make that hire when he became available. In basketball at least I'll pull for Georgia over the rest of the SEC teams. Personally very thankful we get this game at TBA and don't have to play in Stegeman this year.
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lol, well sir, I would make that deal 100% of the time!!! Perhaps tonight will be a bit of a gauge for where we are. If we play you guys tough, I’ll be very happy. I’m not throwing any towels if we lose big, but a competitive game till the end where we had a reasonable chance to win would boost my confidence.

Im much more confident in my knowledge of college football, but I’ve also grown up loving college basketball. As stated before, I’m excited that GA has been showing vast improvement. I don’t expect us to be in a final 4 for some time, but making the Tournament is a big deal for me.
 
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#21
#21
DirtyDawg said:
lol, well sir, I would make that deal 100% of the time!!! Perhaps tonight will be a bit of a gauge for where we are. If we play you guys tough, I’ll be very happy. I’m not throwing any towels if we lose big, but a competitive game till the end where we had a reasonable chance to win would boost my confidence.

Im much more confident in my knowledge of college football, but I’ve also grown up loving college basketball. As stated before, I’m excited that GA has been showing vast improvement. I don’t expect us to be in a final 4 for some time, but making the Tournament is a big deal for me.
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Yeah, Georgia has a lot of talent. Just very young still. The good news at least in basketball that's less of a negative than football.

I think Georgia will have a really good shot to make the tournament this year.
 
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#24
#24
Jax_Vol said:
They will play very loose tonight.

Hate to say it, but I can see Dawgs in an upset.
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To me, you can insert any SEC team in that statement. I don’t see a sure win regardless of location in any league game we play this season. The SEC will be a rock fight most every game unlike we’ve ever seen in recent memory.
 
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