Tennessee basketball is back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they prepare to face Norfolk State in its final tuneup before SEC play begins on Saturday.
The Vols enter the matchup unbeaten and the top ranked team in the country while Norfolk State is riding a three-game winning streak entering the matchup.
Here’s everything to know about the New Years Eve matchup in Knoxville.
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How To Watch — No. 1 Tennessee (12-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Norfolk State (9-6, 0-0 MEAC)
- Start Time: 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Stream: SEC Network+. PxP: Will Boling. CC: Steve Hame
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
- Tennessee -30.5 Norfolk State
- Over/under 140
- Tennessee -24 Norfolk State
- Over/under: 138
Probable Starters
Norfolk State (via last game):
Team Statistics (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Norfolk State:
Individual Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Chaz Lanier — 19.3 PPG, 45.1 FG%, 47.3 3PT%
Rebounds: Igor Milicic — 8.1 RPG, 6.1 DRPG, 2 ORPG
Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 8.3 APG, 3.2 TOPG, 33.2 MPG
Norfolk State:
Points: Brian Moore Jr — 19.4 PPG, 57.2 FG%, 51.7 3PT%
Rebounds: Jalen Myers — 5.2 RPG, 3.9 DRPG, 1.3 ORPG
Assists: Christian Ings — 3.7 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 27.9 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 82-64 win versus MTSU
- 84-36 win versus Western Carolina
- 66-64 win at Illinois
- 75-62 win against Miami (New York City)
- 96-70 win versus Syracuse
Norfolk State:
- 77-74 win at High Point
- 76-70 win against Grambling (Connecticut)
- 71-42 win against Alabama State (Connecticut)
- 71-62 loss at Northern Kentucky
- 94-69 loss at Baylor
Prediction
Norfolk State is a solid low major team but I expect Tennessee to be locked in coming out of the Christmas break.
The Spartans have been a bad rebounding team this season and Tennessee should be able to dominate the matchup down low in this game. One thing worth noting is that both teams play at a slower pace which could lead to this being a lower scoring game.
Tennessee wins this one in comfortable fashion and enters SEC play with an undefeated record.
Tennessee 83, Norfolk State 55