After a near week off, Tennessee basketball returns to the court on Monday against Syracuse. The Vols face the Orange in their first of three games in as many days at the Maui Invitational.
Tennessee enters the tournament 3-0 and ranks seventh in the AP Poll at the time of publication though a new AP Poll will release on Monday afternoon.
Here’s everything to know about the Vols’ Maui Invitational opener against Syracuse.
More From RTI: Everything Rick Barnes Said Before Maui Invitational
How to Watch – No. 7 Tennessee (3-0) vs. Syracuse (3-0)
- Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT
- Location: SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center
- TV: ESPN2. PxP: Dan Shulman, CC: Jay Bilas, Sideline: Angel Gray
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
Spread: Tennessee -13 Syracuse
Total: Over/under 143
Spread: Tennessee -14 Syracuse
Total: Over/under 144
What Rick Barnes Said About Maui Invitational
On if this Maui Invitational bracket is as deep as any November tournament he’s never been a part of
“You know what, it’s funny you say that. When I walked back over on Hawaii’s campus today, back in, I think it was ’86, ’85, the year I was at Ohio State, we came over and played, I think it was called the Rainbow Classic at the time. And I remember it being talked about that year there was like four of the six teams who were all ranked. You know, I had forgot all about that until I walked back on campus and Deja vu kind of came back. But as a head coach, no. I mean, I don’t know if you can get one better than where the teams are playing right now. And all of them are geared up to have a pretty good year.”
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes)
Syracuse
- Did not post probable starters on game notes
- Starters from last game
Team Statistics (via Sports Reference)
Tennessee
Syracuse
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Dalton Knecht — 19.7 PPG, 54.1 FG%, 25 3PT%
Rebounds: Jonas Aidoo — 7.3 RPG, 5.7 DRPG, 1.7 ORPG
Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 3.3 APG, 1.3 TOPG, 16.7 MPG
Syracuse:
Points: Judah Mintz — 23.0 PPG, 42.2 FG%, 30 PT%
Rebounds: Quadir Copeland — 6.7 RPG, 5.0 DRPG, 1.7 ORPG
Assists: Judah Mintz — 5.0 APG, 1.7 TOPG, 31.7 MPG
Last Season Results
Tennessee
- Record: 25-11 (11-7 SEC)
- Sweet 16 loss
Syracuse
- Record: 17-15 (10-10 ACC)
- No postseason
Prediction
Tennessee basketball serves as the first big time opponent for the Adrian Autry era of Syracuse basketball. The Orange return some major pieces but Autry is a playing his distinct style of basketball including an abundance of man-to-man defense.
Judah Mintz is the man to worry about. The sophomore is one of the best point guards in the country and everything Syracuse does offensively starts with him.
Tennessee’s defense will likely take a step back this season but one thing that unit is great at is taking away the opponent’s best offensive player, especially if he’s by far the best offensive player.
Syracuse has the ability to test Tennessee’s defense a bit because of Mintz and his diverse skillset but the Vols are by far the better team here. Tennessee should win this one with ease barring an unpredictably poor shooting performance.
Tennessee 83, Syracuse 67
