No. 1 Tennessee Basketball vs. Western Carolina: How To Watch, Betting Odds, Prediction

Rick Barnes
Photo By Andrew Ferguson/ Tennessee Athletics

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.

More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Holds Steady At Top Spot In Latest AP Poll

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

FanDuel Sportsbook

  • Tennessee -38 Western Carolina
  • Over/under 144

KenPom

  • Tennessee -34 Western Carolin
  • Over/under: 10

Probable Starters

Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Western Carolina (via last game):

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

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