Vols host top-ranked Alabama

Published 7:36 am Wednesday, February 15, 2023

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Tenth-ranked Tennessee men’s basketball prepares for another top-10 matchup this week, as No. 1 Alabama comes to Knoxville for a top-10 showdown Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET inside Thompson-Boling Arena.

Fans can catch Wednesday’s game on ESPN2 and online or on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (reporter) will have the call.

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Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.

Tennessee (19-6, 8-4 SEC) is coming off a second consecutive one-point loss, as the Vols fell to Missouri at the buzzer Saturday, 86-85. Despite the loss, Tyreke Key starred in the second half, scoring 21 of his 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.

Wednesday marks just the third top-10 matchup in the 36-year history of Thompson-Boling Arena and second this season. Earlier this season on Jan. 28, No. 4 Tennessee defeated No. 10 Texas, 82-71, while on March 2, 2019, No. 7 Tennessee defeated No. 4 Kentucky, 71-52. Tennessee has a current home win streak of five games against AP top-10 opponents

Up next, Tennessee heads north to Lexington for its second matchup of the season with rival Kentucky this Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

Notebook

• Tennessee trails the all-time series with Alabama, 70-82, dating to 1914. This is one of only two SEC series in which UT does not hold the advantage.

• When the series is contested in Knoxville, Tennessee owns a 47-23 advantage.

• Alabama has won each of the last three meetings overall.

• Strangely, in the four meetings over the last three seasons, neither The Vols nor the Tide has ever posted more assists than turnovers.

• Alabama is the eighth different program to face the Vols while ranked No. 1, joining Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio State, Memphis, Kansas and Gonzaga.

• The Vols have won five straight home games vs. AP top-10 teams.

• Tennessee is seeking its ninth regular-season win over a top-five foe under head coach Rick Barnes, and its 10th overall. See note below.

• Barnes was an assistant coach at Alabama for the 1985-86 season.