The Official Tennessee @ #3 Kansas Game Thread, 4:00 PM ET, ESPN

#1
YankeeVol

YankeeVol

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#1
ESPN Big 12/SEC Challenge

Tennessee Volunteers: 12-6 (4-2 SEC)

usa_today_13940194.0.jpg


@

#3 Kansas Jayhawks: 15-3 (5-1 Big 12)

bball%20brawl.jpg



GAME 19 | TENNESSEE at KANSAS - Jan. 25, 2020 | 4:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. CT | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)

Line: UT: +13
O/U: 129

TV: ESPN / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen
Satellite Radio: Sirrius: --- / XM: 374
Online: ESPN App

Kansas Game Notes

1gDk9cZT
 
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#2
#2
THE SERIES
• Tennessee owns a 1-3 all-time record vs. Kansas, dating to 2009.
• That first-ever meeting took place at Allen Fieldhouse, with KU claiming a 92-85 victory. The Vols avenged that loss the following season by upsetting the top-ranked Jayhawks in Knoxville on Jan. 10, 2010.
• The four previous meetings have been decided by an average of nine points.
• Tennessee's all-time record against current members of the Big 12 stands at 14-17.
• Rick Barnes' 2010-11 Texas squad posted a 74-63 win at Allen Fieldhouse.
 
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#3
#3
A WIN WOULD...
• Give the Vols a 5-3 record against teams ranked in the AP top five during the Barnes era.
• Be Rick Barnes' eighth head-to-head victory against Bill Self. His seven wins vs. Self currently tie for the most among active coaches (with Tom Izzo of Michigan State).
 
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#4
#4
STORYLINES
• This week one year ago (Jan. 21, 2019), Tennessee ascended to No. 1 in both major polls.
• The 2020 Big 12/SEC Challenge marks the event's seventh year. Tennessee is 4-1 in the event, as the Vols did not take part in the inaugural challenge.
• The Big 12 won the challenge in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. The SEC claimed its lone win in 2018, and the series was tied in 2017. The Big 12 has a cumulative advantage of 35-25 (.583).
• This is Tennessee's sixth time playing with the ESPN College Gameday crew on site. The Vols are 3-2 in those matchups. The six appearances tie for 11th-most among Division I programs.
• Tennessee's staff will sport Nike footwear Saturday as part of the NABC's Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Week.
• The Vols are 17-5 all-time in Suits & Sneakers games, including a 6-3 mark on the road.
• Dating to the start of the 2017-18 season, Tennessee is 17-9 (.654) in true road games.
 
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#5
#5
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee is 4-3 during the Barnes era against opponents ranked in the AP top five. The Vols went 3-2 against AP top-five foes last season.
• Tennessee leads the SEC in both scoring defense (59.0 ppg, seventh nationally) and field-goal percentage defense (.377, 15th nationally).
• During SEC play, junior forward John Fulkerson leads the team in scoring (11.3 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and steals (1.3 spg) while shooting .625 from the field and .900 from the free-throw line.
• Junior forward Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season. He leads the SEC and ranks 19th nationally with 2.7 bpg. His 3.3 bpg during SEC play also leads the league.
• Tennessee freshmen Josiah-Jordan James (12-25) and Santiago Vescovi (13-30) combine to shoot .454 from 3-point range during SEC play.
 
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#6
#6
ABOUT KANSAS
• Kansas is coming off its third consecutive victory in Big 12 action. An 81-60 win over Kansas State on Tuesday night improved the Jayhawks to 15-3 overall and 5-1 in Big 12 play.
• The Jayhawks' lone conference loss came at home to then-fourth-ranked Baylor, 67-55. Since that loss, the Bears have ascended into the nation's top spot in the AP poll, while Kansas landed at No. 3 in both the AP and coaches polls this week.
• A year after surrendering the Big 12 regular-season championship for the first time in 14 seasons, the Jayhawks look to climb back to the top of the Big 12 standings and into the conversation for a national championship run.
• 2019 All-Big 12 third team member Devon Dotson has been explosive for KU. The combo guard initially put his name into the 2019 NBA Draft and participated at the combine this past summer before returning for his sophomore season. Thus far, he is the Jayhawks' leading scorer (18.2 ppg), is second in assists (4.2 apg) and leads the team in steals with 2.3 per game.
• Senior forward Udoka Azubuike has been productive for Kansas after having his 2018-19 campaign ended prematurely due to an injury. He currently ranks second on the team in scoring (12.9 ppg) and first in rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocks (2.4 bpg). Azubuike leads the country in field-goal percentage, knocking down 77.7 percent of his attempts from the field.
• KU's mascot, the Jayhawk, is derived from the word Jayhawker. Jayhawker was originally a term used for U.S. Civil War guerrilla fighters from Kansas who clashed with pro-slavery groups from the state of Missouri.
• Forwards Silvio De Sousa (2.6 ppg) and David McCormack (7.5 ppg) are suspended for Saturday's game.
 
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#9
#9
So that suspension cost the Jaybirds 10.1 points, and two guerrilla fighters... ho-hum.

The NC2A will probably penalize the rest, come Monday.

Is the Vols' recent improvement for real? or simply a reflection of two inferior opponents? We find out in about 14 hours. GBO!!!
 
#13
#13
YankeeVol said:
ESPN Big 12/SEC Challenge

Tennessee Volunteers: 12-6 (4-2 SEC)

usa_today_13940194.0.jpg


@

#3 Kansas Jayhawks: 15-3 (5-1 Big 12)

bball%20brawl.jpg



GAME 19 | TENNESSEE at KANSAS - Jan. 25, 2020 | 4:05 p.m. ET / 3:05 p.m. CT | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)

Line: UT: +13.5
O/U: 125.5

TV: ESPN / Watch
Radio: Vol Network / Listen
Satellite Radio: Sirrius: --- / XM: 374
Online: ESPN App

Kansas Game Notes

1gDk9cZT
Click to expand...
Hilarious picture of Kansas.Good stuff
 
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#17
#17
I’m not sure our shooting is consistent enough to feel confident in our Vols against an opponent like Kansas. If we pull off an upset, we’ll need to shoot a high % from beyond the arc and Fulky and Uros combine for 30 pts. Wonder if Barnes goes with a zone to make their guard heavy offense hit 3s to beat us.
 
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#18
#18
Good morning Volunteers! I certainly want a win today but honestly.... I just want a determined Volunteer team to come out and play tough.

Go Big Orange!
 
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#19
#19
Defensively Kansas is one of the best teams in the country at forcing long FG attempts. We need to be that team today. Dotson is shooting 26% on long 2s and 3s. Easier said than done but we need to clog the paint and make things as difficult as possible for Azubuiki too. For Azubuiki, the guy is shooting 40% from the stripe. Seems to me you’re better off fouling him than allowing him a good look. Moss and Braun are capable of lighting you up, but they only account for 10% of shot attempts combined

In the 2 games Kansas lost this year they’ve shot poorly from 3 and turned it over more than their opponents. Needless to say it’s a challenging matchup.

If the midrange shot is there early want to see Pons and Fulky convert. But if there’s a game we desperately need Bowden to snap out of his slump this ones it. Barnes obviously is familiar w this matchup. Hope he has something up his sleeve
 
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#21
#21
One thing for sure, Kansas has the talent advantage.

However, I feel as if Barnes knows this is an important game to win to keep our tournament hopes alive which is why I think the Vols win a fairly close one.

UT - 70
KU - 66
 
#25
#25
The ability of Fulky to hit mid range shots will help us on offense. Forcing Azubuiki to come out a little from the basket and hopefully give us a chance at getting some shots around the rim
 
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