Tennessee
How to watch Tennessee vs. Illinois, a road test for the nation’s top-ranked team
Is there anything the Tennessee Volunteers are not good at? Like … anything? They could probably hoop blindfolded. They probably get together as a team every morning and nail NYT Games on first guess.
Tennessee is the top-ranked team in the AP poll. It is second in adjusted defense. It’s making 63 percent of its 2-pointers, the best mark in the country, and has won every game by at least 13 points. Can the Vols keep it up? A road trip to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini will serve as one of their tougher early-season tests.
No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers at Illinois Fighting Illini
Venue: State Farm Center — Champaign, Ill.
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday
TV: FOX
Stream college basketball on Fubo (try for free)
Chaz Lanier is shooting 48.6 percent on 3-pointers on eight tries per night. The fifth-year senior transferred from North Florida, and the Volunteers very much enjoy his quick release and confidence on pin-downs. Lanier also has a springy first step and a fun pump fake to his game.
His teammate, Zakai Zeigler, leads the SEC with more than eight assists a game. He’s an eminently enjoyable college basketball player to watch, clever in facilitation and tough on defense despite his 5-foot-9 frame. He and Jahmai Mashack are irritants on the perimeter, combining for more than four steals a game. Rick Barnes’ team is experienced, with a starting lineup featuring four seniors and a junior. The Volunteers are also high on the title odds board and currently sit at +1400 to win it all at BetMGM.
Illinois looks like it has a potential lottery-pick talent in freshman Kasparas Jakučionis. He slotted in at No. 6 in The Athletic’s first mock draft. The Lithuanian guard is a natural playmaker with a feel for the game, save for a slight turnover problem. He’s shooting 49 percent from the field and 44 percent on 3-pointers — not bad for his first nine collegiate games.
Jakučionis is just the second Division-I freshman in the last decade to put up a four-game stretch with at least 80 points, 25 rebounds, 20 assists and 15 treys. The other was Trae Young.
He leads an Illini group with just one bad loss (Northwestern) and a pair of solid wins (Arkansas, Wisconsin). Brad Underwood’s group is 15th in KenPom rating and 11th in Basketball Reference’s simple rating system. The Illini lead the Big Ten in offensive boards and 3-point tries.
Tennessee is favored, but Illinois is a tough out at home. The Volunteers won this matchup last year in Knoxville, 86-79.
Memorable matchup: Dec. 12, 1985 — Tennessee triumphed, 54-51. Fred Jenkins led all scorers with 21. Illinois’ Tony Wysinger put up 14 points and two steals in defeat.
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Tennessee vs. Illinois odds
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Tennessee star Nate Ament will miss a game against South Carolina on Tuesday, the program announced on Monday night. Ament was injured during a weekend contest against Alabama.
Ament was injured when he was rolled up on while going for a loose ball. His leg twisted awkwardly underneath him, and Ament immediately went to the locker room.
He would return briefly in the second half. Nate Ament even made a basket, but then he appeared to tweak his injury shortly after and returned to the bench. He did not re-enter the contest.
Tennessee issued a short statement on his availability against South Carolina. The program released the statement on Twitter.
“Nate Ament will not play tomorrow night at South Carolina,” Tennessee wrote. “Ament is out due to a right leg injury sustained Saturday against Alabama. The timetable for his return is to be determined and he will continue to be evaluated.”
A 6-foot-10, 207-pound freshman, Ament has been one of Tennessee’s best players all season. He is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points per game. He’s also the team’s leading rebounder, securing 6.4 rebounds per game.
Nate Ament signs NIL deal with Reebok
On3’s Nick Schultz recently published a list of some of the top brands to sign college basketball freshmen to NIL deals. Ament was one of the top signees.
In addition to Arkansas star Darius Acuff, Ament signed with Reebok this year. Ament was the crown jewel of Tennessee’s recruiting class. He signed with the brand in October 2024 while he was the No. 4 overall player from the 2025 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Nate Ament sits second on the Tennessee roster with 17.4 points per game, and his 6.4 rebounds on average leads the Vols. Additionally, his $1.3 million On3 NIL Valuation ranks No. 14 in college basketball and No. 56 in the On3 NIL 100.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this report.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On Thursday, Hands On and NewsChannel 5 staff will come together for a community-wide cleanup day.
The event, sponsored by NewsChannel 5 will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 as we assist in winter storm cleanup.
If you’d like to help volunteer, you can sign up here.
Rhori, Carrie, Lelan and Brittany will all be helping assist residents removing and sorting debris.
Important details for those wishing to volunteer:
- This may require lifting and carrying objects that weigh 20+ pounds.
- Closed-toe shoes and long pants required. Heavy soles and steel toes preferred. Gloves and safety goggles will be provided, or you may bring your own.
- Current tetanus vaccination recommended. Chainsaws, utility crews, and heavy equipment will be active in the area.
- Volunteers under the age of 18 are prohibited from participating.
- Eat before you arrive and bring a water bottle, if needed.
Nashville’s Jefferson Street Sound Museum named stop on U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The Jefferson Street Sound Museum is a great little gem in North Nashville. The founder and curator turned his home into a museum to keep the legacy of historic Jefferson street alive. Now, it’s been named a stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Aaron Cantrell takes us inside.
– Lelan Statom
KNOXVILLE ― Vanderbilt women’s basketball won at Tennessee for only the second time in program history, beating the Lady Vols 87-77 at Food City Center on March 1.
The Commodores (27-3, 13-3) are the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins March 4 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The regular-season finale featured multiple runs by both teams. Tennessee went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter and took a six-point lead into halftime. Vanderbilt went on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, then went a 10-0 run in the fourth to put the game away.
The Commodores, who shot 53% from the field, were led by Mikayla Blakes, who finished with 34 points. Aubrey Galvan had 24 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Sacha Washington had 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
“The season has been really special, to be able to end it here at Tennessee with a win and secure I think the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament,” coach Shea Ralph said. “So the double bye, it feels really cool. I’m happy for the team, but we are literally just getting started.”
Tennessee (16-12, 8-8) outrebounded Vanderbilt 32-29. The Commodores shot 17-for-20 on layups and had 27 fast-break points. Tennessee was 10-for-24 on layups.
Vanderbilt’s SEC Tournament seed
The SEC Tournament will be held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Vanderbilt will start play on March 6 and holds a bye into the quarterfinals, where it will play the No. 7 or No. 10 seed at approximately 5 p.m. CT.
Mikayla Blakes stats
Blakes put up another 30-point performance, her third straight and eighth in her past nine games. She added six rebounds and four assists, but also had six turnovers.
She made six 3-pointers, which ties her season high.
“She had 34 but her biggest buckets were when we had to happen,” Ralph said. “Her biggest moments in this game were when we had to happen. That kid shows up every time.”
Third straight rivalry win
Vanderbilt now has three straight wins over the Lady Vols, beating them last season in Nashville and once in the SEC Tournament.
“I think Tennessee is a great team,” Ralph said. “They will be for as long as women’s basketball exists. Playing here in front of this crowd is tough. It’s tough. So I was really proud of our team for being able to figure it out the second half and win, especially here at Tennessee.”
The Commodores have their most SEC wins in program history.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
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