Texas A&M @ Tennessee preview
Thompson-Boling Arena
Last Meeting ( Dec 29, 2016 ) Tennessee 73, Texas A&M 63
Texas A&M has endured a nightmarish start to SEC play, and things won’t get any easier when it visits No. 23 Tennessee on Saturday. It’s the second straight road game against a ranked opponent for the Aggies, who hope to avoid falling to 0-5 in conference action.
The Volunteers had a rough start to league play as well, dropping games at Arkansas and at home against Auburn, but they’ve rebounded with big wins over Kentucky (76-65) and Vanderbilt (92-84) in the past week. Tennessee forward Grant Williams figures to be a candidate for SEC Player of the Week honors after pouring in 37 points against the Commodores on Tuesday, but he will have a tough matchup against Texas A&M's strong frontcourt. The Aggies are getting closer to full strength after knee injuries to both starting guards and leading scorer DJ Hogg’s three-game suspension for violating school policy contributed to the rocky start to SEC play. Guard Admon Gilder returned for Tuesday’s 74-73 loss at Kentucky – the Aggies’ second straight one-point defeat – and point guard Duane Wilson is close to coming back.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (11-5, 0-4 SEC): The Aggies seem to have snapped out of their offensive funk with Hogg (14 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Gilder (12.8, 4.9) back in the lineup, and Gilder is their best on-ball defender. They’ve also missed having Wilson (12.1 points, 4.5 assists) as a steady ball-handler, as redshirt freshman JJ Caldwell has stepped into the lineup. Tyler Davis (14.6 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Robert Williams (8.7, 9.8, 2.7 blocks) are one of the top post duos in the nation and make it tough on opponents to score in the paint.
ABOUT TENNESSEE (11-4, 2-2): Grant Williams (17.2 points, 6.8 rebounds) is averaging a league-best 22.3 points in SEC play after his huge game at Vanderbilt. Admiral Schofield (13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds) also has had a hot hand lately, topping 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career and averaging 8.3 rebounds over his last six games. Schofield and Jordan Bowden (10.6 points) both shoot the ball well from 3-point range, which is likely to be key against the Aggies with points in the paint at a premium.
TIP-INS
1. Tennessee coach Rick Barnes has a strong track record against the Aggies dating to his time at Texas, as he is 26-8 all-time versus Texas A&M.
2. The Aggies have outrebounded 14 of their 16 opponents and rank 14th nationally in rebound margin (plus-8.5).
3. Volunteers reserve G Lamonte Turner, who scored a team-high 14 points in last season’s win over the Aggies, is averaging 13 points in SEC play.
PREDICTION: Tennessee 76, Texas A&M 73