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No. 20 Vols Start SEC Play vs. No. 18 Razorbacks
3 Jan
Summary
- Tennessee and Arkansas, both ranked and with 10-3 records, begin conference play.
- The matchup is set for Jan. 3 at Bud Walton Arena, airing on ESPN2.
- Coach Rick Barnes respects Arkansas's rapid improvement under John Calipari.
The No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers are set to commence their SEC conference schedule with a challenging road game against the No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks. This highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for January 3rd, with tip-off at 3 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ESPN2 from Fayetteville, Arkansas's Bud Walton Arena. Both teams enter this pivotal contest with identical 10-3 nonconference records, setting the stage for a competitive conference opener.
Tennessee is arriving at this game following a decisive 105-54 victory over South Carolina State, concluding their nonconference slate on a high note. Meanwhile, the Razorbacks secured a commanding 103-74 win against JMU in their last outing, aiming to build momentum after a previous 94-85 defeat to No. 8 Houston. Coach Rick Barnes expressed his respect for Arkansas's program, noting their continuous improvement throughout the season under coach John Calipari.
Key players for Tennessee include Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who leads the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game and also contributes 5.8 assists. Nate Ament and Jaylen Carey are the top rebounders, each averaging 6.9 boards, with Ament also adding 15.4 points per game. This game marks a crucial early test for both teams as they navigate the demanding SEC schedule.
