No. 4 Tennessee basketball seeks to extend its winning streak Saturday afternoon against the Oklahoma Sooners. Read more for a full Tennessee vs Oklahoma prediction and preview.
Following a three-game homestand, No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers will meet Oklahoma on Saturday at noon EST, live on ESPN from the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
General Information:
Teams: Tennessee (19-4, 6-4) and Oklahoma (16-6, 3-6)
Tip-off: Noon EST
Watch: ESPN
Latest on Oklahoma basketball:
The Oklahoma Sooners have struggled in SEC play this season. In their most recent contest, The Sooners were routed 98-70 by No. 1 Auburn.
Regardless of their troubles, the Vols will take this contest as seriously as the others.
“No doubt in my mind, they’re as competitive as anybody that we will play this year,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said Friday.
A guard-forward combo leads Oklahoma. Jalon Moore, a senior forward, leads the Sooners in scoring with 17.9 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 43.3% from three. Jeremiah Fears, a 6-foot-4 guard, is among the SEC’s top freshmen. He averages 15.9 points and leads the team with 4.2 assists. He has a 32.1% offensive usage rank for Oklahoma, the 20th highest in the country.
Jeremiah Fears suffered an injury in the Sooners’ loss to Auburn earlier this week, and his availability for Saturday is uncertain.
Latest on Tennessee basketball:
In its most recent action, No. 4 Tennessee basketball faced an 11-point disadvantage early in the second half and dominated the final 19 minutes to overcome No. 15 Missouri, 85-81, on Wednesday night at Food City Center.
Rick Barnes’ team was on fire from deep, converting 10-of-15 three-point tries (66.7 percent) against Missouri.
Igor Milicic Jr. and Zakai Zeigler led the way for Tennessee, becoming the first Tennessee duo to record 20 points and five assists in the same game since 1998.
The senior forward has rediscovered his groove in the Vols’ last two games. Milicic Jr. is averaging 20 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Versus Kentucky and Missouri, he made 6-of-11 3-pointers and was 14-of-20 overall.
“I think when Igor plays well, it takes pressure off everybody,” Barnes said.
The SEC has six teams in the top 20 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Vols have faced five of the six teams in their past games. Oklahoma continues Tennessee’s streak of facing those teams in succession.
OU is No. 16 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, which ranks sixth in the SEC. Auburn is first, Kentucky is second, Alabama is third, Florida is fourth and Missouri is fifth.
The Volunteers are 33rd in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency while sitting first in adjusted defensive efficiency this year.
Tennessee basketball will attempt to take care of business in a favorable road test against Oklahoma.
Tennessee vs Oklahoma prediction: Volunteers by 9 (69-60)
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