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After Great Escape, No. 1 Tennessee Hosts Western Carolina
Fresh off a dramatic win over Illinois, No. 1 Tennessee looks to stay perfect on the season when it hosts Western Carolina on Tuesday night in Knoxville, Tenn.
Tennessee Survives Illinois Test
The Volunteers (10-0) displayed grit and determination in their 66-64 road victory at Illinois on Saturday, relying on a clutch play from Jordan Gainey to remain unbeaten. With 5.7 seconds left, Gainey inbounded the ball, received it back, and drove the length of the court for the game-winning layup.
Tennessee overcame a rough start, missing 21 of its first 25 shots and battling significant foul trouble. Coach Rick Barnes praised his team’s toughness, calling the Illinois matchup a “high-level game” that will pay dividends during SEC play.
“To be in December and play a game like that, hoo boy, it’s high-level,” Barnes said. “They got a taste of it 24 hours before (from the atmosphere).”
Balanced Attack Leading the Way
Tennessee boasts a deep, balanced scoring attack led by sharpshooter Chaz Lanier, who averages 18.9 points per game. Three more Volunteers average double figures:
- Igor Milicic Jr. (12.3 ppg)
- Jordan Gainey (11.6 ppg)
- Zakai Zeigler (11.5 ppg)
Lanier, a lethal threat from deep, and Milicic provide offensive versatility, while Gainey’s late heroics highlight Tennessee’s ability to execute under pressure.
The Volunteers also flexed their strength on the glass against Illinois, out-rebounding the Fighting Illini 42-37 — a key factor against a physical opponent.
Western Carolina Faces Uphill Climb
The Catamounts (3-6) enter the contest after back-to-back losses to South Carolina Upstate and UNC Asheville. Western Carolina struggled offensively in Saturday’s 78-61 setback against Asheville, shooting just 38.1 percent while committing 15 turnovers.
Under first-year coach Tim Craft, the Catamounts are rebuilding after losing five seniors and seeing an exodus of players. Craft had to recruit nine new scholarship players, leaving only one returning player with game experience — senior forward Bernard Pelote.
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Pelote leads the Catamounts in rebounding with 7.4 boards per game while contributing 9.6 points. The backcourt leads the scoring charge, albeit inconsistently:
- Ice Emery (12.0 ppg, 35.8% shooting)
- Cord Stansberry (11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Craft admitted the team is still working to establish its identity with so many new faces.
“We had to recruit nine new players to be on scholarship plus walk-ons,” Craft said. “We’re building a culture here.”
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Key Matchups
- Tennessee’s Depth vs. Western Carolina’s Defense: The Volunteers’ balanced scoring and relentless rebounding will test the Catamounts, who have struggled to keep opponents off the glass.
- Western Carolina’s Guards: If the Catamounts hope to stay competitive, Emery and Stansberry must hit shots efficiently against Tennessee’s tough perimeter defense.
By the Numbers
- Tennessee Scoring: 79.3 ppg
- Western Carolina Scoring: 67.8 ppg
- Tennessee Rebounding Margin: +7.6 per game
- Western Carolina FG%: 39.4%
Prediction
Tennessee, brimming with confidence after a gritty win over Illinois, should have no trouble against a rebuilding Western Carolina squad. Look for the Volunteers to use this game to tighten up their rotation and continue developing consistency on both ends.
