Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee basketball is back in action on Monday night as they host Rice in a non conference matchup in Knoxville. It’s a reunion of sorts as Rice head coach Rob Lanier was a former Rick Barnes assistant coach at both Texas and at Tennessee.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
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How to Watch — No. 20 Tennessee (3-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Rice (2-2, 0-0 American)
- Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Watch: SEC Network. PxP: Mike Morgan, CC: Dane Bradshaw
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Mike Keith, CC: Chris Lofton, CC: John Wilkerson
Betting Odds
FanDuel Sportsbook
- Tennessee -26.5 Rice
- Over/under: 143.5
KenPom
- Tennessee -22 Rice
- Over/under 142
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes)
Rice (via last game)
Where They Land In Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: No. 20
- Coaches Poll: No. 17
- KenPom: No. 13
- Bart Torvik: No. 16
- EvanMiya: No. 14
Rice:
- AP Poll: N/R
- Coaches Poll: N/R
- KenPom: No. 186
- Bart Torvik: No. 164
- EvanMiya: No. 175
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Rice:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Nate Ament — 20 PPG, 46.2 FG%, 28.6 3PT%
Rebounds: Nate Ament — 8.7 RPG, 6 DRPG, 2.7 ORPG AND JP Estrella — 8.7 RPG, 5.3 ORPG, 3.4 DRPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.7 APG, 3.7 TOPG, 28.7 MPG
Rice:
Points: Trae Broadnax — 16.5 PPG, 52.5 FG%, 53.8 3PT%
Rebounds: Jimmy Oladokun Jr. — 7 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 3.7 DRPG
Assists: Jalen Smith — 3 APG, 2 TOPG, 29.5 MPG
Prediction
There will be no shortage of familiarity between these two teams due to the coaches. Both also play at a pretty slow pace which likely would lead to a more low scoring game. Combine that with how well Rice has shot from three-point range and how many triples they’ve taken this season and there is a path to this being a competitive game.
But Rice should have little to no two-point offensive success, Tennessee should control the glass and the Owls have not been particularly effective at forcing turnovers— an area where Tennessee has struggled this season.
The Vols win but come short of covering the spread.
Tennessee 80, Rice 57
