After an impressive showing last week in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in The Bahamas, Tennessee men's basketball is back in Knoxville on Wednesday night to host McNeese State at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols (5-1) – who are ranked No. 13 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll – are coming off a 64-50 win over then-No. 3 Kansas, which clinched the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. The team's lone loss came to Colorado back on November 13 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
McNeese State (2-5), which is a member of the Southland Conference, makes the trip to Knoxville after losing 86-83 at UT Martin. Tennessee has never played the Cowboys.
GAME INFORMATION
Who: No. 13 Tennessee (5-1 overall) vs. McNeese State (2-5)
When: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | 7:15 p.m. ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena | Knoxville, Tennessee
TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart, play-by-play; Dane Bradshaw, analyst)
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Tennessee 98.4%, McNeese State 1.6%
KenPom Projection: Tennessee 83, McNeese State 49
Series History: First meeting
PROJECTED LINEUPS
PREVIEW
Tennessee heads into Wednesday's non-conference game with plenty of momentum after going a perfect 3-0 in The Bahamas. Despite their early-season loss to Colorado on a neutral court, the Vols are playing at a high level as December approaches.
Rick Barnes' team is tough to beat inside Thompson-Boling Arena as the Vols have won 19 straight home games, and that streak should easily be pushed to 20. Tennessee has never lost to a Southland Conference team, and the Vols have won 16 straight home games against non-conference opponents.
McNeese State lost at UT Martin on Monday and suffered an 89-60 defeat at Baylor on November 23. The Cowboys' two wins this season have come against Champion Christian College and Lamar.
The Vols are heavy favorites against McNeese State – KenPom projects them to win 83-49 – and they should be able to cruise to an easy victory before hosting Alcorn State on Sunday.
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