The Official #6 Tennessee vs. Alabama Game Thread, 2:00 PM ET, ESPN2

#1
YankeeVol

YankeeVol

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#1
#6 Tennessee Volunteers: 13-4 (3-1 SEC)
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vs.

Alabama Crimson Tide: 12-5 (4-0 SEC)
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GAME 18 | TENNESSEE vs. ALABAMA - Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET | Knoxville, Tenn. | Food City Center (21,678)


Line: UT -5.5
O/U: 158.5

TV: ESPN2 / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen / Live Stats
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM: 81
Online: WatchESPN.com

Alabama Game Notes


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#2
#2
THE MATCHUP

• Tennessee and Alabama have split their last eight meetings, dating back to 3/4/17, with the Crimson Tide 3-1 in the last four after the Vols were 3-1 in the prior four.
• Eight of last nine games in the series, including the past six, have been decided by single digits.
• Last year, No. 10/11 Tennessee knocked off top-ranked Alabama, 68-59, on 2/15/23 in Knoxville, Tenn. The shorthanded Volunteers, playing without Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips, got 15 points apiece from Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler, along with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double from Jonas Aidoo. They also held Brandon Miller to 4-of-11 shooting.
• Picked fifth in this year's SEC preseason poll, Alabama is coming off a campaign in which it went 31-6 (16-2), swept the SEC titles, reached the Sweet 16 and finished top-four in both polls.
• Alabama senior guard Mark Sears, a Preseason Second Team All-SEC pick, is the leading scorer in the SEC at 19.6 ppg and has eight 20-point performances this year.
 
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#3
#3
NEWS & NOTES

• The Vols and Tide are both top- eight nationally in NET, KenPom, ESPN BPI, BartTorvik and Haslametrics analytical rankings.
• Tennessee redshirt freshman D.J. Jefferson and Alabama sophomore Rylen Griffin are from Richardson, Texas, and played against each other in high school while the former was at Berkner and the latter was at Richardson.
• Tennessee freshman Cade Phillips is a native of Jacksonville, Ala., whose dad (John David Phillips), uncle (Brodie Croyle) and grandfather (John Croyle) all played football at Alabama, while his mother (Reagan [Croyle] Phillips) played basketball there.
• UT head coach Rick Barnes' only other job in the SEC was as an assistant at Alabama in 1985-86.
• Santiago Vescovi is one start away from tying Chris Lofton (2004- 08) and Allan Houston (1989-93) for the most in UT history with 128. He is also two minutes away from becoming the fourth Vol to play 4,000, alongside Houston, C.J. Watson (2002-06) and Tony White (1983-87).
 
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#5
#5
DOMINANT DK

• Dalton Knecht, the SEC's active career PPG leader (15.15) has 103 points in the last three games, with 101 in the last 99 minutes.
• The only other SEC players in the last 15 seasons (2009-24) with 100 points in a three-game span are Ole Miss' Breein Tyree (101 in Feb. 2020) and Arkansas' Mason Jones (104 in Jan./Feb. 2020).
• Knecht is the sixth player in UT history with three 35-point games, alongside Bernard King (11), Ernie Grunfeld (eight), Allan Houston (six), Tony White (four) and Dale Ellis (three). Only Knecht, King (thrice), Grunfeld and White achieved the feat within a season.
• The only players in UT history with back-to-back 35-point showings are Dalton Knecht, Allan Houston (Dec. 1990 & Feb. 1990), Bernard King (Feb./March 1977), Ernie Grunfeld (March 1976 & Dec. 1975) and Ron Widby (March 1967). Just four instances were in SEC play.
• Per Jared Berson, Knecht is the first SEC player to log back-to- back 35-point outings in nearly 33 years, with LSU's Shaquille O'Neal the last to do so in Feb. 1991.
 
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#7
#7
I would expect Alabama to make slowing Dalton Knecht down a priority and limit his touches and his points. Tennessee will counter that strategy, if they try to do that, by letting Knecht, bring the ball down the floor.
I want to see if they double him when he drives with the ball.
 
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#9
#9
SN-A-C Orange said:
I would expect Alabama to make slowing Dalton Knecht down a priority and limit his touches and his points. Tennessee will counter that strategy, if they try to do that, by letting Knecht, bring the ball down the floor.
I want to see if they double him when he drives with the ball.
Click to expand...
I'm going to assume ZZ draws Sears today. That might be the matchup that decides this game. As Mook pointed out, this is a huge league game. Would be a perfect setting for all our shooters to be "on" and it's not all on Knecht to win it. He's very good and I'm glad we have him, but I'm not sure we aren't making him more than he really is.
 
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#11
#11
CAVPUT said:
I'm going to assume ZZ draws Sears today. That might be the matchup that decides this game. As Mook pointed out, this is a huge league game. Would be a perfect setting for all our shooters to be "on" and it's not all on Knecht to win it. He's very good and I'm glad we have him, but I'm not sure we aren't making him more than he really is.
Click to expand...
You don’t think he’s potential SEC POY/All-American caliber?
 
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#12
#12
bleedingTNorange said:
You don’t think he’s potential SEC POY/All-American caliber?
Click to expand...
Potential? Sure. Not trying to rain on the Knecht parade, but it's still a bit early to annoint him. Is he the type that will carry a program to and through March or just a really good player on a hot streak? Lights will be awfully bright today. I'll be curious to see how he plays in this one especially since bama isn't exactly known for their defense.
 
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#13
#13
Bama is always a pain to play. 4-0 in SEC means we need to be hot from start to stop. Just put more balls through the hoop/score more points and we win. Looking for a couple of our regulars like Santi, ZZ, and JJJ to score double figures to take some pressure off Aidoo, Awaka, and Knecht. Go Vols! Beat Bama!
 
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#15
#15
If they shoot a reasonable percentage from 3 early they win easily, if not it could be a nail biter. They have so many options when they hit 3's its almost unstoppable. 30% would do it, just enough to stretch the defense.
 
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#16
#16
VOLtaism said:
If they shoot a reasonable percentage from 3 early they win easily, if not it could be a nail biter. They have so many options when they hit 3's its almost unstoppable. 30% would do it, just enough to stretch the defense.
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Who are you referring to as "they"? If you're saying bama will win easily by hitting 3s that's simply untrue. We beat them last year (when they had Brandon Miller) handily, without JJJ even. Our home advantage is huge. Hoping you were referring to the vols :D
 
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#18
#18
CAVPUT said:
I'm going to assume ZZ draws Sears today. That might be the matchup that decides this game. As Mook pointed out, this is a huge league game. Would be a perfect setting for all our shooters to be "on" and it's not all on Knecht to win it. He's very good and I'm glad we have him, but I'm not sure we aren't making him more than he really is.
Click to expand...
Lmao, are you kidding me? Making him more than he is? 🤡 statement of the day.
 
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#20
#20
Pretty simple breakdown of what needs to be done/accomplished for the W---- As many have claimed so far this year, we should have the depth to step in and step up when bama undoubtedly will try to stop DK... We will need JJJ/Vescovi/others to step up their game, SHOW UP, and get points on the board to supplement DK's potential lack of... This should not be a problem at this point in the season, no excuses with the way we know our depth can play.

In return, our defense needs to smother and stress Sears all day and force them to find other scoring options.

Being at home, we should be able to get into rhythm and build confidence sooner with the fanbase behind them, and get the 3 game going. We do this, have Aidoo, Awaka, Mashak, Vesc, JJJ, and of course ZZ show up and play to their potential, and we could push this W into double digits.

We cannot get on cold steaks, have stupid sloppy turnovers, and let them win the rebound game. Any of these gets out of hand, plus our depth doesn't show up, this will come down to the last few minutes, because unfortunately bama for some reason plays their best against us and doesn't get flustered as often on the road.

The only outlier that will be in question is the officiating ... Will they finally call an even game or will they continue to coddle and prop up our opponents, even at home? Seeing the blatant bias in football, and now being at several games and seeing it in Bball, it's quite concerning and at what point is something done about it? I worry a bit they will try to get us into foul trouble early... And when I say "they", I don't necessarily mean bama...

ZZ, DK, and Aidoo are playing at a high confidence level right now, and it needs to continue...
 
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#21
#21
We have to start strong and close out on those barrage of 3’s they shoot and make it difficult to get a good look.
Knecht has to be Knecht with a strong supporting cast of ZZ, SV, JJ, Aidoo, & Shack.
Stop the drive penetration and kick out and we’ll be Aight!!
 
#22
#22
CAVPUT said:
Potential? Sure. Not trying to rain on the Knecht parade, but it's still a bit early to annoint him. Is he the type that will carry a program to and through March or just a really good player on a hot streak? Lights will be awfully bright today. I'll be curious to see how he plays in this one especially since bama isn't exactly known for their defense.
Click to expand...

I agree agree with your takes that others need to step up and that we are not sure about Knecht yet. It’s my BVS that won’t let my hopes get too high yet. He is definitely promising. Is it a hot streak or the dawning of a great player? It’s going to be fun to watch!
 
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#23
#23
Wonder if CRB will try to force the offense at Sears? Making him exert extra effort on defense and potentially lose minutes due to fouls could be a strategy?

Slowing them down plays to our advantage. We’ve been turning the ball over at rates we’ve not seen in several seasons which is odd considering our wings are very experienced. I’m thinking long perimeter shots might not be in our best interest as those long rebounds can lead to fast breaks. The game strategies for this one will be very interesting IMO
 
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