Tennessee basketball is back in action on Wednesday night as they prepare to host the Montana Grizzlies at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
The Vols are coming off a nice first week of the season where they earned two wins including a 77-55 win at Louisville on Saturday afternoon.
Here’s everything to know about the Vols’ matchup with the Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
More From RTI: Everything Rick Barnes Said Following Tennessee’s Successful First Week Of The Season
How To Watch — No. 11 Tennessee (2-0, 0-0 SEC) vs Montana (2-1, 0-0 Big Sky)
- Start Time: 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Stream SEC Network+. PxP: Andy Brock. CC: Steve Hamer
- Online Streaming: SEC Network+
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
- Tennessee -25.5 Montana
- Over/under: 138.5
- Tennessee -22 Montana
- Over/under: 142
What Rick Barnes Said About Montana
On what stands out about Montana
“One, they’re playing a high level schedule. They’ve been to Oregon, obviously coming here and well coached. A team that,I think they’re very solid in their approach, what they’re trying to do, how they want to play. You can expect again, I’ve got great respect for Montana basketball because I’ve been around long enough to know the history of that program. And I was told the other day, it’s the first time in my career I’m coaching against a Big Sky team. I never thought of it that way.”
Reporter: joke about it must be a new conference
“No. I mean, it’s been around a long time. Not to not to cross paths with them somewhere is really kind of ironic, but I know about their basketball. Their love for basketball there. Their tradition about it. And so we want to be ready to play obviously because we know now— all you gotta do is look around scores going on in college, but it happens every year. The games changed where everybody can play, and we’re gonna have to be ready to play tomorrow.”
Probable Starters
Montana:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Chaz Lanier — 18.5 PPG, 51.9 FG%, 67 3PT%
Rebounds: Felix Okpara — 7.5 RPG, 4.5 DRPG, 3 ORPG
Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 8 APG, 7.5 TOPG, 33.5 MPG
Montana:
Points: Kai Johnson — 16.3 PPG, 59.4 FG%, 36.4 3PT%
Rebounds: Joe Pridgen — 8.7 RPG, 5.7 DRPG, 3 ORPG
Assists: Money Williams — 4.3 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 27.3 MPG
Prediction:
Montana is a difficult team to get a feel for this early in the season because its three gams have come against two division two teams and a good Oregon team. They’ve blown out the two division two teams and lost by 30 points against Oregon.
Tennessee’s defense looked much sharper against Louisville than it did in its opener against Gardner-Webb. That and turnovers are the two big questions that I have for Tennessee in this game. I think the Vols get it done and cover.
Tennessee 81, Montana 56
