Tennessee vs. Norfolk State: Top-Ranked

No. 1 Tennessee Gears Up to Face Norfolk State

The Tennessee Volunteers are back after an eight-day break, ready to close out their nonconference schedule against Norfolk State on Tuesday in Knoxville. With an undefeated record (12-0) and momentum on their side, the top-ranked Vols look to keep rolling.

Tennessee’s On Fire This Season

The Vols have been dominating their opponents lately. They crushed Western Carolina 84-36 and followed that with an 82-64 win over Middle Tennessee, scoring 80-plus points in back-to-back games.

The star of the show? Chaz Lanier. He’s been leading the charge, dropping 19 points against Western Carolina and 23 against Middle Tennessee. On the season, Lanier is averaging 19.3 points per game and hitting an incredible 47.4% of his threes.

But he’s not doing it alone. Jordan Gainey (11.9 PPG), Zakai Zeigler (11.8 PPG, 8.3 APG), and Igor Milicic Jr. (11.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG) have all been putting in work, making Tennessee a well-rounded team that averages 81.2 points per game.

The team did face a little drama last week when sophomore guard Cameron Carr announced he’s transferring. Coach Rick Barnes didn’t seem too surprised by the news, though:

Norfolk State is No Push-Over

Don’t sleep on Norfolk State. The Spartans (9-6) are coming into this game with a three-game winning streak, including a clutch 77-74 win at High Point on Sunday.

Brian Moore Jr. has been their standout player, and he’s on a tear. He scored a career-high 33 points in their last game and has been super consistent all season, averaging 19.4 points per game and hitting double digits in every game so far.

Moore’s got backup, too. Christian Ings is averaging 12.9 points and leading the team with 3.7 assists per game. Jalen Meyers is contributing 10.4 points and grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game.

What makes Norfolk State dangerous is their disciplined offense. According to High Point’s coach Alan Huss:

“They run a set play almost every single time down. They execute their stuff at a high level, and they’ll make you pay if you’re not sharp defensively.”

Last Time They Met

These two teams faced off last season, and Tennessee walked away with an 87-50 win. Zakai Zeigler led the way with 17 points in that game, and the Vols will look to repeat that dominant performance this time around.

What to Watch For

For Tennessee:

Lanier’s Scoring Streak: Chaz Lanier has been unstoppable lately. Can he keep the momentum going and lead the Vols to another big win?
Team Depth: Tennessee’s balanced scoring and rebounding will be key to controlling the game.

For Norfolk State:

Brian Moore’s Hot Hand: Moore has been lighting it up this season. If he gets going early, he could give Tennessee’s defense a real challenge.
Flawless Execution: Norfolk State’s set plays will test Tennessee’s defensive discipline.

Why This Game Is Worth Watching

Tennessee is looking to stay undefeated, while Norfolk State is aiming to prove they can hang with the best. It’s a classic matchup of depth and firepower against discipline and precision.

Expect a fun and competitive game as the Volunteers wrap up their nonconference slate in style.

Tennessee Volunteers vs Norfolk State Spartans Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024