Texas Longhorns vs Tennessee Volunteers Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

No. 1 Tennessee Looks to Rebound Against Texas in SEC Showdown

No. 1 Tennessee travels to Austin on Saturday for a high-stakes SEC clash against Texas, marking a return for Volunteers coach Rick Barnes to the school he led for 17 seasons. While the Longhorns aim to bounce back after two tough league losses, Tennessee is seeking redemption following its first defeat of the season.

Volunteers Seeking a Reset

Tennessee (14-1, 1-1 SEC) suffered a humbling 73-43 loss to No. 8 Florida on Tuesday, snapping their undefeated start. The Volunteers struggled offensively, shooting just 21.4 percent from the floor and 4 of 29 from 3-point range.

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Coach Barnes emphasized the importance of learning from the setback:
“Anytime you’re not making shots, it never looks good,” Barnes said. “I felt like we lost our poise a little bit. Certainly, we went through a segment of that game where we didn’t play together. We need to regain that focus.”

Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler were the only Volunteers to reach double figures against Florida, scoring 10 points apiece. The game against Texas will test Tennessee’s ability to regain its offensive rhythm and composure.

Texas Facing a Gauntlet

The Longhorns (11-4, 0-2 SEC) are navigating a daunting start to SEC play, having faced No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 2 Auburn in consecutive games. Saturday marks the first time in program history that Texas plays back-to-back games against top-two ranked opponents.

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Texas nearly mounted an incredible comeback against Auburn on Tuesday, cutting a 21-point second-half deficit to three in the final minute before falling 87-82. Arthur Kaluma exploded for a career-high 34 points, while Jordan Pope and Tre Johnson contributed 19 and 11 points, respectively.

“Coach Barnes has a really good team — they’re ranked No. 1 in the country for a reason,” said Texas coach Rodney Terry, who served as an assistant under Barnes at Texas. “His teams always play physical, they’re well-coached and compete. We’ll be excited about the opportunity.”

Key Matchups

• Tennessee’s Offense vs. Texas’ Defense: The Volunteers must improve their shooting efficiency against a physical Texas squad. Barnes will look for offensive leaders like Zeigler and Lanier to step up.
• Arthur Kaluma’s Hot Streak: Kaluma has the ability to take over games, as evidenced by his 34-point performance against Auburn. Tennessee will need to contain him to avoid a repeat of their defensive struggles against Florida.
• Battle of the Boards: Tennessee’s physicality on the glass, led by forwards Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon, will be a key factor against a Longhorns team that thrives on second-chance opportunities.

What’s at Stake

For Tennessee, a win would reaffirm their No. 1 ranking and restore momentum. Texas, meanwhile, seeks its first SEC win and a chance to prove it can compete with the conference’s elite.

With Barnes returning to Austin and both teams desperate for a statement victory, expect an intense, physical showdown in the heart of Texas.