University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, December 6
Nashville, TN
8 PM ET
University of Tennessee
vs
Illinois
HOOPS CENTRAL: #13 Tennessee vs. #14/15 Illinois
December 05, 2025 | Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE – The No. 13 Tennessee men's basketball team (7-2) is set to continue the 2025-26 slate at Bridgestone Arena Saturday as they face the No. 14/15 Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2) as part of Music City Madness.
Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN and stream on the ESPN App. Karl Ravich (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) will have the call.
Fans state-wide can tune in to their local Vol Network radio affiliate to hear Voice of the Vols Mike Keith and analyst Chris Lofton depict the action.
THE MATCHUP
• After a 35-year hiatus, Tennessee and Illinois are meeting for the third straight season. This is their first-ever neutral-site matchup.
• UT claimed an 86-79 home win on 12/9/23 in a top-20 showdown. Last year, while ranked No. 1, the Vols earned a 66-64 road victory on 12/14/24 on a buzzer-beating layup by Jordan Gainey.
• The Volunteers are 37-44 against the current Big Ten schools. They are 3-0 over the last two years, with each win away from home.
• Illinois (4-1), Rutgers (3-0) and Southern Cal (5-3) are the three Big Ten schools Tennessee is multiple games over .500 against.
• Rick Barnes is 43-40 against the current Big Ten membership, with a 10-8 mark at UT that includes victories over nine schools. Illinois is the only Big Ten program he has beat twice while with Tennessee.
• Coming off a 22-13 (12-8) year in which they reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Fighting Illini placed fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll.
• Senior guard Kylan Boswell leads Illinois with 17.3 ppg and 3.9 apg.
NEWS & NOTES
• UT assistant Amorrow Morgan coached Illinois junior guard Andrej Stojackovic last season at Cal. He averaged 17.9 ppg and was an All-ACC Honorable Mention.
• The Vols are 21-14 at Bridgestone Arena, including 13-12 in the SEC Tournament and 8-2 in the regular season. Of the latter 10 outings, eight happened between 2000- 01 and 2009-10. They went 2-1 last year, reaching the SEC title game.
• Through nine contests, UT is averaging 41.3 ppg in the paint and conceding just 24.7 ppg in the paint at the other end. It has 150 more paint points (372-222) than its foes, good for 16.7 per game.
• Tennessee is 20-15 in AP top-15 matchups in the Rick Barnes era, including 19-12 since 3/2/19 and 20-12 in regulation contests.
• The Volunteers are 23-11 in their last 34 games against AP top15 foes, dating to 12/22/21. That includes a 10-6 mark in non-conference play (8-5 versus non-SEC teams).
• With 843 wins, Rick Barnes leads active DI coaches and ranks ninth all-time (min. 10 years in DI).
• The Vols are in the midst of playing six straight Power Five foes in non-conference play. Illinois is the fifth one in that span.
• This is the fifth consecutive non-home contest for the Volunteers.
• Two different Tennessee forwards have scored 22-plus points off the bench this season. J.P. Estrella had 23 against North Florida (11/12/25) and Jaylen Carey tallied 22 at Syracuse (12/2/25). Both totals were career highs.
• Tennessee, Alabama and Houston are the only schools to make the last three Sweet 16s. Tennessee, Alabama and Duke are the only three in the last two Elite Eights.
• UT finished fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and KenPom for the second consecutive season in 2024-25, tying the program best set/tied just one year prior.
• Tennessee's 208 wins the last nine years (2017-26) are co-seventh in DI, alongside Saint Mary's. Only Houston (250), Gonzaga (246), Duke (229), Kansas (219), Purdue (214) and Auburn (209) own more. The rest of the top 10 is Drake (204) and Liberty (204).
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES...
• TOP 25: In the past five years (2021-26), Tennessee's 31 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (30), Connecticut (29), Kansas (27), Iowa State (26), Purdue (25) and Arizona (24) are within eight.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 27 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (26), Alabama (25), Kansas (23) and Purdue (21) are even within seven.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 23 AP top-15 decisions over those five years. Alabama (20) and Kansas (20) are the only schools even within six.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 13 AP top10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut. Alabama (12), Iowa State (12), Kansas (12), Arizona (11), Florida (11), Kentucky (11) and Purdue (11) are the only programs even within four.
• TOP FIVE: In that same five-year span, the Vols have eight AP top-five victories, tied with Arizona for the most in DI. Alabama (seven), Florida (seven) and Iowa State (five) are the only others with even five such triumphs.
• TOP THREE: Tennessee has five AP top-three wins in those five years, tied with Florida for second in DI, behind just Arizona (six). The only other team with even four such victories is Alabama.
DYNAMITE "D" A UT TRADEMARK
• The Volunteers, through 12/3/25, rank No. 11 in the country in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (94.4). They are third in the SEC, behind only ninth-ranked Florida (93.5).
• Tennessee finished 2024-25 third nationally in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (89.7), fourth in 3-point percentage defense (28.7), seventh in field-goal percentage defense (38.6) and No. 10 in scoring defense (63.0).
• The Volunteers ranked third in 2023-24 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (90.2) and placed fifth in DI in field-goal percentage defense (39.4).
• In 2022-23, UT led the nation in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (87.5), taking the top spot for 15 weeks. The Vols led all DI teams in 3-point defense (26.5), plus ranked third in scoring defense (57.9) and field-goal percentage defense (37.3).
• In six of the last eight years (2017-25), UT placed top-10 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency: third in 2024-25, third in 2023-24, first in 2022-23, third in 2021-22, fifth in 2020-21 and sixth in 2017-18.
• UT is 105-9 (.921) under Rick Barnes when allowing 60 or fewer points, with 44 such wins in a row from 3/11/22 to 1/21/25. It was 22-0 in 2022-23.
• The Vols, through 3/31/25, have won 50 straight (40 under Barnes) when conceding 50 points or fewer, since 12/29/12. That includes 12 such victories in 2022-23, matching Houston for the DI lead that year.
GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini
- Tipoff: Saturday, Dec. 6 | 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena
- Watch Online: ESPN
- Online: Listen Live | Live Stats
RELATED LINKS
Follow @Vol_HoopsTENNESSEE
Roster Schedule Game NotesILLINOIS
Roster Schedule Game NotesTHE LATEST FROM THE VOLS
#13 Vols Drop 62-60 Road Decision at Syracuse Ament Collects Third SEC Freshman of the Week Honor Vols Ascend to #13 in Both Polls#17/16 Vols Fall to Kansas, 81-76, in Players Era Men's Championship Third-Place Game #17/16 Vols Knock off #3/2 Houston, 76-73, at MGM Grand Garden ArenaFans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN and stream on the ESPN App. Karl Ravich (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) will have the call.
Fans state-wide can tune in to their local Vol Network radio affiliate to hear Voice of the Vols Mike Keith and analyst Chris Lofton depict the action.
THE MATCHUP
• After a 35-year hiatus, Tennessee and Illinois are meeting for the third straight season. This is their first-ever neutral-site matchup.
• UT claimed an 86-79 home win on 12/9/23 in a top-20 showdown. Last year, while ranked No. 1, the Vols earned a 66-64 road victory on 12/14/24 on a buzzer-beating layup by Jordan Gainey.
• The Volunteers are 37-44 against the current Big Ten schools. They are 3-0 over the last two years, with each win away from home.
• Illinois (4-1), Rutgers (3-0) and Southern Cal (5-3) are the three Big Ten schools Tennessee is multiple games over .500 against.
• Rick Barnes is 43-40 against the current Big Ten membership, with a 10-8 mark at UT that includes victories over nine schools. Illinois is the only Big Ten program he has beat twice while with Tennessee.
• Coming off a 22-13 (12-8) year in which they reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Fighting Illini placed fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll.
• Senior guard Kylan Boswell leads Illinois with 17.3 ppg and 3.9 apg.
NEWS & NOTES
• UT assistant Amorrow Morgan coached Illinois junior guard Andrej Stojackovic last season at Cal. He averaged 17.9 ppg and was an All-ACC Honorable Mention.
• The Vols are 21-14 at Bridgestone Arena, including 13-12 in the SEC Tournament and 8-2 in the regular season. Of the latter 10 outings, eight happened between 2000- 01 and 2009-10. They went 2-1 last year, reaching the SEC title game.
• Through nine contests, UT is averaging 41.3 ppg in the paint and conceding just 24.7 ppg in the paint at the other end. It has 150 more paint points (372-222) than its foes, good for 16.7 per game.
• Tennessee is 20-15 in AP top-15 matchups in the Rick Barnes era, including 19-12 since 3/2/19 and 20-12 in regulation contests.
• The Volunteers are 23-11 in their last 34 games against AP top15 foes, dating to 12/22/21. That includes a 10-6 mark in non-conference play (8-5 versus non-SEC teams).
• With 843 wins, Rick Barnes leads active DI coaches and ranks ninth all-time (min. 10 years in DI).
• The Vols are in the midst of playing six straight Power Five foes in non-conference play. Illinois is the fifth one in that span.
• This is the fifth consecutive non-home contest for the Volunteers.
• Two different Tennessee forwards have scored 22-plus points off the bench this season. J.P. Estrella had 23 against North Florida (11/12/25) and Jaylen Carey tallied 22 at Syracuse (12/2/25). Both totals were career highs.
• Tennessee, Alabama and Houston are the only schools to make the last three Sweet 16s. Tennessee, Alabama and Duke are the only three in the last two Elite Eights.
• UT finished fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and KenPom for the second consecutive season in 2024-25, tying the program best set/tied just one year prior.
• Tennessee's 208 wins the last nine years (2017-26) are co-seventh in DI, alongside Saint Mary's. Only Houston (250), Gonzaga (246), Duke (229), Kansas (219), Purdue (214) and Auburn (209) own more. The rest of the top 10 is Drake (204) and Liberty (204).
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES...
• TOP 25: In the past five years (2021-26), Tennessee's 31 AP top-25 wins lead DI. Only Alabama (30), Connecticut (29), Kansas (27), Iowa State (26), Purdue (25) and Arizona (24) are within eight.
• TOP 20: Tennessee is first in the nation with 27 AP top-20 triumphs over that span. Only Connecticut (26), Alabama (25), Kansas (23) and Purdue (21) are even within seven.
• TOP 15: The Volunteers lead DI with 23 AP top-15 decisions over those five years. Alabama (20) and Kansas (20) are the only schools even within six.
• TOP 10: Since 2021-22, Tennessee owns 13 AP top10 wins, co-first nationally, alongside Connecticut. Alabama (12), Iowa State (12), Kansas (12), Arizona (11), Florida (11), Kentucky (11) and Purdue (11) are the only programs even within four.
• TOP FIVE: In that same five-year span, the Vols have eight AP top-five victories, tied with Arizona for the most in DI. Alabama (seven), Florida (seven) and Iowa State (five) are the only others with even five such triumphs.
• TOP THREE: Tennessee has five AP top-three wins in those five years, tied with Florida for second in DI, behind just Arizona (six). The only other team with even four such victories is Alabama.
DYNAMITE "D" A UT TRADEMARK
• The Volunteers, through 12/3/25, rank No. 11 in the country in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (94.4). They are third in the SEC, behind only ninth-ranked Florida (93.5).
• Tennessee finished 2024-25 third nationally in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (89.7), fourth in 3-point percentage defense (28.7), seventh in field-goal percentage defense (38.6) and No. 10 in scoring defense (63.0).
• The Volunteers ranked third in 2023-24 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (90.2) and placed fifth in DI in field-goal percentage defense (39.4).
• In 2022-23, UT led the nation in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (87.5), taking the top spot for 15 weeks. The Vols led all DI teams in 3-point defense (26.5), plus ranked third in scoring defense (57.9) and field-goal percentage defense (37.3).
• In six of the last eight years (2017-25), UT placed top-10 in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency: third in 2024-25, third in 2023-24, first in 2022-23, third in 2021-22, fifth in 2020-21 and sixth in 2017-18.
• UT is 105-9 (.921) under Rick Barnes when allowing 60 or fewer points, with 44 such wins in a row from 3/11/22 to 1/21/25. It was 22-0 in 2022-23.
• The Vols, through 3/31/25, have won 50 straight (40 under Barnes) when conceding 50 points or fewer, since 12/29/12. That includes 12 such victories in 2022-23, matching Houston for the DI lead that year.
Players Mentioned
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