The turn-around this season for head coach Dennis Gates and the Missouri Tigers has been unlike any other story in the NCAA this year. They've competed against a variety of opponents and, more often than not, held their own.
This week's first game, following a historically high No. 15 ranking in the AP Top 25, clearly means a lot to Mizzou, which now sits at 17-4 and third in the SEC with a 6-2 record.
The road has not been easy for the Tigers this season. They struggled to get their first road win, but it came in a big way against then-No. 6 Florida.
They also suffered a recent upset defeat to the unranked Texas Longhorns before responding with a blowout victory over Mississippi State last week, marking their second road win of the year.
Now, they travel to Knoxville to face potentially the most well-rounded team they've matched up against all season. Tennessee plays strong all-around basketball and has few weaknesses on either side of the ball.
The Volunteers are 18-4, with all of their losses coming from within the conference. They're 5-4 in the SEC, which places them a disappointing sixth overall.
Despite their competitive record, the SEC is too strong this season, leading to a slew of must-watch games so far, with plenty more to come.
Coming off a blowout victory over No. 6 Florida, Tennessee looks to establish a strong winning streak after losing three of its last four games before the Gators matchup.
The Volunteers were recently 16-1 before struggling as of late. During that stretch, they lost to unranked Vanderbilt by one, No. 1 Auburn by two, and No. 14 Kentucky by five. Tennessee has had trouble closing out games against these teams, which is something the Tigers can take advantage of.
Their fourth loss came against Florida in their first matchup, a game that, although earlier in the season, saw the Volunteers lose by 30 and barely put up 40 points—an off game for a team that averages over 70 a night.
Head coach Rick Barnes, who recently marked a decade at Tennessee, has led the team to several victories. He holds an overall record of 204-101 during his tenure.
The Volunteers have easily surpassed 20 wins in each of the past four years and are well on their way to doing it again this season. They also won over 30 games in the 2018-19 season, a feat not often seen in the NCAA.
Tennessee has also had its fair share of NCAA Tournament appearances, qualifying six times in the last seven years. The Volunteers have reached the Sweet Sixteen multiple times and, last year, made it all the way to the Elite Eight as a No. 2 seed before being narrowly defeated by now-NBA big Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers.
As mentioned earlier, the Volunteers are one of the most well-rounded teams you can find in the NCAA.
They have one main scorer, senior Chaz Lanier. The guard, in his first season for Tennessee after dominating the previous four at North Florida, has established himself as a true threat from all over the court.
He averages 18 points per game, ranking him in the top 70 in the league. Lanier also leads the team in minutes and is a strong defender, averaging over a steal per game.
In his 30 minutes of action per game, Lanier shoots over 41% from the field and more than 42% from three, while dominating shot attempts in each contest. He can score at will and often takes over games.
Chaz Lanier was getting BUCKETS in No. 1 Tennessee's win over No. 23 Arkansas 🪣
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 4, 2025
29 PTS | 10-20 FG pic.twitter.com/yuGrCF5BUn
Igor Milicic Jr. is another threat on the team. The senior, standing just under seven feet tall, has a solid offensive game.
While not a threat from deep, he shoots over 46% from the field, mostly coming from inside the paint.
The center, in his third season with a new team, averages over 10 points per game. What's truly remarkable, though, is his 8 rebounds per game, ranking within the top 60.
The Volunteers also have strong facilitators. Starting point guard Sakai Zeigler, another senior, ranks fifth in the NCAA in assists, averaging over 7 per game.
He adds over 12 points per game but isn't very efficient, shooting 36% from the field and just 28% from deep. His 5-foot-9 frame makes him quick and shifty, which helps with the passing game, but it limits his ability to create shots or draw contact.
Zeigler is one of two players on the roster averaging two steals per game, while two others contribute at least one steal per game.
A team full of defenders, Tennessee's defensive prowess extends beyond steals, with four players averaging at least one block per game.
The team ranks first in opponent field goal percentage and 16th in blocks per game, making them clearly one of the best overall defensive teams in the league this season.
Coach Dennis Gates and his team need to be ready to defend and score, with an emphasis on finding a way to break through this tough defense if they hope to secure another upset victory Wednesday evening.
The SEC rivals, both hoping for a bid in March Madness next month, tip off at 6:30 p.m. in Knoxville, Tennessee.