HOOPS CENTRAL: #19/20 Tennessee vs.South Carolina State

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- 19/20 The Tennessee men's basketball team (9-3) opens its 2025-26 season on Tuesday at Food City Center when they face South ...

University of Tennessee Athletics

HOOPS CENTRAL: # 19/20 Tennessee vs. South Carolina

in 2025December 29|

Knoxville, Tenn.-Men's Basketball Team No.19/20 Tennessee (9-3) will continue slate 2025-26 in downtown Food on Tuesday as they face the South Carolina Province Bulldogs (1-13).The proposal is set for 8 p.m.et.

Fans can watch Tuesday's game on the SEC Network and broadcast on the ESPN app.Kevin Fitsgerled (play-by-play) and Pat Bradley (color) will have the call.

Fans across the country can tune in to their Vol Network Radio station to hear John Wilkerson and commentator Chris Lofton call the action.

• South Carolina State is the last of three teams on Tennessee's schedule that have never met before.UT previously beat Northern Kentucky and Northern Florida.

• The Volunteers have only played three previous games against current MEAC members.They are 2-0 against Norfolk State, a win in each of the last two seasons and 1-0 against Coppin State.

• Rick Barnes has a perfect 9-0 record against current MEAC schools.He is 3-0 against Coppen State, 2-0 against Morgan State, 2-0 against Norfolk State and 2-0 against South Carolina State.

• Barnes' previous meetings with the Bulldogs all occurred in 1997, when he was Clemson's head coach.On January 4, 1997, his Tigers won 63-44 at home, and on December 28, 1997, his Tigers won 84-60 at home.

• At 20-13 (11-3), South Carolina State finished fourth in the MEAC.Sophomore guard Jaden Johnson was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year.

• Junior guard Owen Bronston Jr.leads the Bulldogs with 11.7 ppg.

NEWS & NOTES

• With 845 wins, Rick Barnes leads all active DI coaches and is ninth (min 10 years at DI).He was on the ballot for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the third consecutive year, as announced on 12/19/25.

• Tennessee leads the nation with 44.6 rebounding percentage.Double-digit offensive rebounds have been recorded in all 12 games this year, 15+ in seven games, 18+ three times and 20+ twice, with a high of 23.

• The Volunteers' +13.3 rebounding rate ranks fifth in the nation. They grabbed at least 35 total boards in 11 of 12 contests, with 43-plus in seven, 47-plus in five and 50-plus in three, with a high of 54.

• Tennessee looks to reach double-digit wins before making its fourth consecutive SEC season in 2022-23.

• Ja'kobi Gillespie Coplayer of the week won the SEC on 12/22/25 and the National Player of the Week of the ROBWA Week on 12/23/25.It has 1,475 career points, only 25 short of 1,500.

• With 845 wins, Rick Barnes leads all active DI coaches and is ninth all-time (at least 10 years in DI).As reported on 12/19/25, he is on the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ballot for the third consecutive year.

• Tennessee leads the nation in offensive field goal percentage at 44.6.He has recorded double-digit offensive percentage in all 12 games this year, going 15-plus in seven games, 18-plus three times and 20-plus twice, tying for 23.

• Voluntary rebounding margin of +13.3 is fifth nationally.They have had at least 35 boards in 11 of 12 contests, including 43-plus in seven, 47-plus in five and 50-plus in three, for a career high of 54.

• Tennessee is trying to reach double-digit wins for the fourth consecutive season before SEC play in 2022-23.

• Ja'Kobi Gillespie won the USBWA Robertson Trophy Co-Nationals on 12/22 and won SEC CoPlayer of the Week on 12/23/25.He has 1,475 career points, 25 of 1,500.

• Voluseers wins at home in non-conference games in each of the past five (2020-25).With the record of 35-- This year, they win were 43 pupils from the 2020-1212 time open (12/8/20).

• According to the Elias athletic office, the 43-game non-conference home winning streak is tied for the second-longest such mark in program history.The previous record was from 12/7/40 to 12/10/49.

• The Cubs' 43-game regular-season nonconference home hitting streak is tied for fourth-most in DI, tied with Akron.That's behind only Auburn (65), Baylor (51) and Texas Tech (45).The only other teams with more than three dozen are Iowa State (41) and Providence (39).

• Texas Tech (45-0) is the only other school with more than 43 regular-season wins at home in the last six years (2020-26) (45-0).Only five other programs have more than 20: Baylor (42-0), Providence (37-0), Auburn (36-0), Akron (31-0) and Purdue Fort Wayne (24-0).

• During the span, Tennessee wis menang liwat program kaya Arizona State, Cincinnati State, Colorado State, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville State, Syracuse State and Texas State.

TAKING BUSINESS

• According to Will Warren of Basketball Under Review, Rick Barnes enters the 2025-26 season with the best record of any coach against Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents over the previous five seasons (2020-25) at 58-0.

• According to Warren, the leading coaches to have played 25 such games in five years without losing are Mississippi's Chris Beard (45-0) and Duke's Jon Schell (44-0).

• Adding to the Volunteers' 7-0 record in such games in 2025-26, Barnes is now 65-0 against Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents over the past six years (2020-26).Meanwhile, Beard is no longer undefeated, at 52-1, and Scheyer is now 50-0.

Game times and broadcast information

- Opponent: South Carolina State Bulldogs

- Tipof: Tuesday, December 30 |8 p.m. ET

- Flats: Food City Centre

- Watch online: SEC Network

- Online: Listen live |Live statistics

Roster Schedule Game Notes South Carolina State

The list is LAST OF THE PLANS

Gillespie Shares USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week Honors Gillespie Named SEC Co-Player of the Week Vols Rise to #19/20 Nationally#20/23 Vols Throttle Gardner-Webb, 94-52 Vols Mourn the Passing of Hank BertelkampFans can watch Tuesday's game on SEC Network and stream on the ESPN App. Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Pat Bradley (color) will have the call.

Fans across the state can tune into their local Vol Network affiliate radio show to hear John Wilkerson and analyst Chris Lofton describe the action.

• South Carolina State is the last of three teams on Tennessee's schedule that it has never met before.UT has already beaten Northern Kentucky and Northern Florida.

• Volunteers take on the role of three players to debate with members about their current personalities.

• Rick Barnes has a perfect 9-0 record against current MEAC schools.He is 3-0 against Coppin State, 2-0 against Morgan State, 2-0 against Norfolk State and 2-0 against South Carolina State.

• Both of Barnes' previous meetings with the Bulldogs came in the 1997 calendar year while he was head coach at Clemson.His Tigers posted a 63-44 home win on 4/1/97 and then an 84-60 home win on 12/28/97.

• At 20-13 (11-3), South Carolina State finished fourth in the MEAC.Sophomore guard Jayden Johnson was the MEAC preseason player of the year.

• Junior guard Owen Bronston Jr.leads the Bulldogs with 11.7 ppg.

NEWS & NOTES

• Winners 845, Rick Barnes are leaders of the nine teachers and nine nai tutor.

• Tennessee leads the nation in offensive rebounding percentage at 44.6.This year, he achieved double-digit offensive rebounds in all 12 games, with 15 or more rebounds seven times, 18 or more three times, and 20 or more twice, with a maximum of 23.

• The Volunteers' +13.3 rebounding margin is fifth nationally.They totaled at least 35 boards in 11 of 12 contests, including 43-plus in seven, 47-plus in five and 50-plus in three, with a high of 54.

• Tennessee is looking to make it two straight wins before making its fourth SEC appearance in 2022-23.

• Jacoby Gillespie won his second Coplayer of the Week on 12/22/25 and USBOA Robertson Trophy National Co-Player of the Week on 12/23/25. He has 1,475 career points, just 25 out of 2,500.

• With 845 wins, Rick Barnes leads all active DI coaches and ranks ninth all-time (minimum 10 years in DI).He is on the ballot for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the third year in a row, as announced on 12/19/25.

• Tennessee leads the nation with offensive rebounding percentage at 44.6.He has recorded double-digit rebounds in all 12 games this year, with 15-plus in seven games, 18-plus three times and 20-plus twice, with a high of 23.

• Volunteers' +13.3 increase ranks fifth in the nation.They have 35+ rebounds in 11 of 12 contests, 43+ in seven, 47+ in five, 50+ in three and 54+ overall.

• Tennessee is trying to reach double-digit wins before making its fourth straight season in SEC play dating back to 2022-23.

• Ja'Koby Gillespie won SEC Player of the Week on 12/22/25 and USBWA Robertson Trophy Player of the Week on 12/23/25.He has 1,475 points, just 25 shy of 1,500 in his career.

• The Volunteers are undefeated at home in non-conference play in each of the last five seasons (2020-25).They have won 43 consecutive such games dating back to the 2020-21 season opener (12/8/20), including their 7-0 record this year.

• The 43-game nonconference home winning streak is tied for the second-longest in program history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.The previous count was from 12/7/40 to 12/10/49.

• The Volunteers' DIP3-Conforents Home Winning Strike Like Tratege (39) and Texas Tech (39) and TEXAS TECH (39) and TEXAS TECH (39).

• The only other school with more than 43 regular-season home wins over the last six meetings (2020-26) is Texas Tech (45-0).Only five other programs have more than 20: Baylor (42-0), Providence (37-0), Auburn (36-0), Akron (31-0) and Purdue Fort Wayne.(24-0).

Tennessee beats Arizona, Cincinnati, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisville, Syracuse and Texas.

PROCESS DEFINITION

• Per Will Warren of Basket Under Review, Rick Barnes enters the 2025-26 season with the best record of any coach against Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents over the previous five seasons (2020-25) at 58-0.

• According to Warren, the only coaches with more than 25 such games and no losses in five years are Ole Miss's Chris Beard at 45-0 and Duke's Jon Scheyer at 44-0.

• Add Volunteers 7-0 in 2025-25, Branch is 65-0-14, Schered Quests is no better than 59-2.

MBB | Rick Barnes Postgame vs. Jihar South Carolina (12.30.25)

Tuesday, December 30

MBB |Jaylen Curry an Amare Evans Postgame vs. South Carolina (25.30.12)

Tuesday, December 30

MBB |Highlights: Tennessee 105, South Carolina State 54

Tuesday, December 30

MBB |Bryan Lentz Media Availability (12.29.25)

Monday December 29th