Tennessee basketball is back in action on Tuesday night as they host Western Carolina in the first of three buy games to close non conference play.
Along with UT Martin, Western Carolina is the worst team on Tennessee’s schedule and shouldn’t present any challenge for top-ranked Tennessee.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup.
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How To Watch — No. 1 Tennessee (10-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Western Carolina (3-6, 0-0 SoCon)
- Start Time: 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Watch: SEC Network+. PxP: Andry Brock. CC: Steve Hamer, Sideline: Sarah Detwiler
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Betting Lines
- Tennessee -38 Western Carolina
- Over/under 144
- Tennessee -34 Western Carolin
- Over/under: 10
Probable Starters
Team Statistics (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Western Carolina:
Individual Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Chaz Lanier — 18.9 PPG, 45.8 FG%, 47.4 3PT%
Rebounds: Igor Milicic — 8 RPG, 5.9 DRPG, 2.1 ORPG
Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 7.4 APG, 3.2 TOPG, 32.6 MPG
Western Carolina:
Points: Ice Emery — 12 PPG, 35.8 FG%, 28.1 3PT%
Rebounds: Bernard Pelote — 7.4 RPG, 5.9 DRPG, 1.6 ORPG
Assists: Ice Emery — 2 APG, 2 TOPG, 25.1 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 66-64 win at Illinois
- 75-62 win against Miami (New York City)
- 96-70 win versus Syracuse
- 78-35 win versus UT Martin
- 77-62 win against Baylor (Bahamas)
Western Carolina
- 78-61 loss at UNC Asheville
- 74-68 loss versus USC Upstate
- 86-74 win versus Bellarmine
- 94-62 loss at Marquette
- 91-57 loss at Florida State
Prediction
Not too much to elaborate on this one. Tennessee should roll in a big way. Look for the Vols to be particularly effective on the glass. Western Carolina has been a very bad defensive rebounding team this season.
Tennessee 86, Western Carolina 48