Tennessee basketball is playing another ranked team but this time it is in Knoxville.
The No. 13 Vols (5-3) host No. 18 Illinois (7-1) on Saturday (noon ET, CBS) at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in the first game of a home-and-home series. UT will play at Illinois in December 2024.
Tennessee is playing its fourth game against a team currently ranked in the Top 25. Wisconsin, which UT beat 80-70 in Madison, Wisconsin, on Nov. 10, is the team with the most votes outside the Top 25.
The Vols lost to No. 3 Kansas, No. 4 Purdue and No. 10 North Carolina. UT snapped a three-game losing streak with an 87-66 win against George Mason on Tuesday.
MORE: Watch Tennessee basketball vs. Illinois live with Fubo (free trial)
The Vols are shaky in the final 90 seconds, with a bad turnover in the backcourt turning into an Illini layup and a couple fouls, but Illinois never got into super dangerous territory with the Vols holding at least a 5-point lead before pushing ahead for the 7-point win.
All five Tennessee starters scored in double figures, led by Dalton Knecht’s 21 points. Some stats coming up…
- Dalton Knecht: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
- Jonas Aidoo: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
- Santiago Vescovi: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, fouled out
- Josiah-Jordan James: 12 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal
- Zakai Zeigler: 11 points, 4 assists, 1 steal
- Jahmai Mashack: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Illinois is trying to extend and muck up the game, but Tennessee doing a solid job in taking care of the basketball and making free throws.
The only minor issue: Dalton Knecht and Santiago Vescovi each have four fouls.
Jonas Aidoo had an underrated play just before the latest timeout, a closeout block of a Terrence Shannon Jr. 3-point attempt. Aidoo has 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks today.
Vols are closing in on its best win so far this season. Illinois is shooting 25.7% from 3 (9-of-35).
Tennessee’s offense is feeding off its defense. After forcing a bad Illinois 3-point shot, Santiago Vescovi grabs the rebound, turns on the jets and has a nifty pass over his head to Jahmai Mashack for the layup. Vols lead by 12, the largest lead today.
Tennessee has made seven of its last eight shots and has 20 assists on 26 made shots. Pretty efficient in the second half. Jonas Aidoo (11 points) and Vescovi (10 points) join Dalton Knecht (21 points) in double figures.
Tobe Awaka was called for his fourth foul with 8:14 left. He’s been very important on the offensive glass, with four in 16 minutes of playing time and seven rebounds overall.
Jordan Gainey pushes the Vols’ lead to 9 with a five-point flurry. Vols are shooting 8-of-17 in the second half.
Illinois is making just enough 3-pointers at the right time to stay within range. Terrence Shannon Jr., the Illini’s leading scorer at 21.6 points per game, has 9 points on 2-of-10 shooting and now has three fouls.
The Vols go on a 10-0 run to re-take the lead and force an Illinois timeout. After a Josiah-Jordan James dunk in transition, Knecht scores five straight points. A hat tip to Jahmai Mashack, whose offensive rebound allowed a Knecht 3-pointer.
Knecht is up to 21 points. He’s going to have to be The Guy for the Vols.
Dalton Knecht is up to 15 points and has seven of the Vols’ 8 second-half points, but the Illini lead by two.
Santiago Vescovi picked up his third foul with 16:33 left and was taken out of the game.
Tennessee has slowed drastically on offense (4 points in the final 8 minutes) as both defenses have started to play more physically. The Vols’ offense should be better with Knecht returning off the bench in the second half with two fouls, but he and Santiago Vescovi (7 points on 3-5 shooting) could stand to get more shots.
Illinois is only shooting 34.4%, and 30%, but it leads in Knoxville at halftime.
Illinois briefly takes the lead before Zakai Zeigler ends Tennessee’s scoring drought with a step-back jumper.
Quincy Guerrier leads Illinois with 12 points.
Dalton Knecht and Jahmai Mashack each have two fouls. Knecht’s second was an offensive foul that appeared to be contact initiated by Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr.
Josiah-Jordan James had five early assists, but this left-handed dunk will be the play that makes the highlight reel.
Illinois is leaning on the 3-point shot, and the Illini are 4-of-13 from there. Illinois is 4-of-7 from inside the 3-point line, but have turned a couple offensive rebounds into points.
Josiah-Jordan James has five of Tennessee’s nine assists on 10 made field goals through 8 minutes, 35 seconds of game play. Vols have only taken 3 3-pointers, and for good reason; Tennessee has 14 points in the paint, leading 23-17.
Illinois coach Brad Underwood lamented his team’s defensive effort in a CBS in-game interview. Underwood wants “a little effort on the defensive end,” he told CBS’ Jon Rothstein during the last timeout.
What a blazing start by both teams, though Tennessee leads 19-13 at the first media timeout. Dalton Knecht and Jonas Aidoo have six points apiece. Josiah-Jordan James already has been credited with three assists. Pace and scoring was quick in the first six-and-a-half minutes.
- Date: Dec. 9, 2023
- Time: noon ET
FRESHMAN: How Cameron Carr made ‘one of the best plays’ of the year for Tennessee basketball
Tennessee basketball’s next five games:
- vs. Georgia Southern: 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 12 (SEC Network)
- vs. North Carolina State in San Antonio, Texas: 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 16 (ESPN2)
- vs. Tarleton State: 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 21 (SEC Network)
- vs. Norfolk State: 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 (SEC Network)
- vs. Ole Miss: 6 p.m. ET On Jan. 6 (SEC Network)
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it
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