Tennessee
Tennessee basketball vs Auburn: Scouting report, score prediction as Vols play 3 straight vs SEC’s top teams
Tennessee basketball hosts Auburn to kick off the final two weeks of the regular season.
“This time of year, if you’re not excited, something’s wrong,” Vols coach Rick Barnes said.
The No. 4 Vols (21-6, 11-3 SEC) host No. 11 Auburn (21-6, 10-4) on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Here is what to know about the matchup:
Zakai Zeigler’s game vs Texas A&M was even more impressive on film
Zakai Zeigler flirted with the second triple-double in Tennessee history on Saturday against Texas A&M. Barnes felt the film of Zeigler’s 14-assist, nine-rebound, nine-point game was even more impressive.
“You get to see the subtle things that he was doing with his eyes, looking off and seeing things,” Barnes said. “You can see he is starting to see a lot of things out there and his poise with the ball, waiting for guys to get where they should have been, was really impressive. He continues to understand more and more what his looks are.”
The 5-foot-9 guard is averaging 13.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in SEC play.
Where Tennessee basketball is in SEC title race
Tennessee is tied for first in the SEC with Alabama with four games to play. The Vols and Crimson Tide are a game ahead of Auburn and South Carolina.
UT plays all three in its next three games. It plays at Alabama on Saturday and at South Carolina on March 6.
“This is what we have and you’ve got to be ready knowing that everybody we play is just as good as we are or could be better if we are not ready to play,” Barnes said.
The Vols won a share of the SEC regular-season title in the 2017-18 season in coach Rick Barnes’ third season.
Johni Broome is the SEC’s top big man
Auburn forward Johni Broome is terrorizing opponents once again. He is averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds, while shooting 55.1% from the field.
Barnes said the 6-foot-10 forward is “truly one of the top post players in the country.”
“I don’t know if he is getting the recognition he deserves,” Barnes said. “A guy that can go inside-outside and does a lot of different things for them. Last year, I thought he was a handful for us and we expect that now.”
Will Jaylin Williams play for Auburn at Tennessee basketball?
Auburn forward Jaylin Williams, Broome’s partner in the post, is a game-time decision due to injury, Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said Tuesday. Williams suffered a right knee injury in Auburn’s 70-59 loss to Kentucky on Feb. 17.
BRACKET: Where Tennessee basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions
Pearl, who coached at UT from 2005-11, said Williams will travel with the Tigers and it is “possible that he could play.”
Williams is averaging 13 points and 4.7 rebounds. He shoots 41.4% on 3-pointers.
Tennessee basketball score prediction vs Auburn
Tennessee 73, Auburn 72: Broome is a problem but the Vols start the gauntlet to close the regular season with a tight win.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com 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.
Tennessee State Senators Michele Reneau of Signal Mountain and Bo Watson of Hixson spoke today about the new law supporting police K-9’s.
The act allows injured dogs to get stabilization services on-site and then be transported via ambulance or helicopter to a vet hospital.
“In the past, officers were basically putting the k9 in their car and transporting them in their in their own vehicle, they didn’t have an ambulance or an air ambulance,” said Senator Watson. “This allows for an air ambulance. It also allows for a educational program for those in EMS, who will be taught how to manage canines emergency medical condition, which is different than a human’s.”
In April, Erlanger flew a K9 officer from Clay County, to North Carolina.
It was the first time the program was used for a live transport after several training runs.
Tennessee softball’s path back to the Women’s College World Series is set. On Sunday night, the Lady Vols were named the No. 7 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will host the regional stage in Knoxville as it looks to return to the WCWS in back-to-back seasons.
The Lady Vols are matched up with Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky in the regionals. It would play Georgia, Clemson, UNC Greensboro or Charleston in the super regionals.
Ahead of the tournament, here’s a look at each team in the Knoxville Regional and potential matchups for the ensuing best-of-three super regional if Tennessee advances.
Knoxville Regional
7-seed Virginia
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
Indiana
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
Northern Kentucky
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
More From RTI: Everything Josh Elander Said After Tennessee Baseball Dropped Series Finale Against Texas
Knoxville Super Regional
3-seed Georgia
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
6-seed Clemson
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- Jamison Brockenbrough – .342
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
UNC Greensboro
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
- Brooklyn Shroyer – 1.41
Charleston
- 2026 record
- 2026 conference tournament result
- 2025 NCAAT result
- 2026 BAVG leader
- 2026 HR leader
- 2026 ERA leader
- Mackenzie Mathis – 3.34
Tennessee rowing won the program’s first SEC championship in a thrilling finish on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge.
The title came down to the final race with the varsity eight boat, which had the lead against Texas going into the final 250 meters. The Longhorns made a late push to overtake the Lady Vols, but the 1V8 crew held on for the victory to secure the SEC championship on May 10.
Tennessee narrowly beat Texas 79-75 to win the title. It’s the first time the Lady Vols have won a conference championship since 2013 when they were a member of Conference USA.
The program’s first SEC title comes in the third season under coach Kim Cupini, who has transformed Tennessee into a national powerhouse.
“Phenomenal to see that from the team”, Cupini said in a school release. “Texas coming in was the number one team in the country and had that undefeated eight. So to see the varsity eight clinch like that was awesome. I have to take my hat off to the full team to get enough points to win the SEC Championship and bring that championship home, especially here at home in Tennessee. So, I was super impressed and super proud of them.”
Tennessee moves on to the NCAA Championships at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, from May 29-31.
Tennessee narrowly beat Texas 79-75 with four total wins, which also included the 2V4, 3V8 and 3V4.
The 1V8 boat finished with a time of 6:06.939 for the win. The first varsity eight crew has beaten eight ranked opponents on the season.
The 2V4 was a crucial comeback win for Tennessee. The second varsity four crew fell behind early but caught up to and overtook Texas in the final 500 meters for the win, finishing with a time of 7:12.677.
“I think the boats on the water saw that,” Cupini said. “To be able to race from behind in the event and win is incredible. The second four, we were going crazy on that. It was a group that just got together the other day. They row together a lot as a team and as a group, but that lineup hasn’t been together. So to see them pull that off and get the win was incredible.”
Tennessee swept the third varsity races, with the 3V8 finishing with a time of 6:29.409 and the 3V4 finishing with a time of 7:16.747. The Lady Vols placed second in the 2V8 and 1V4, losing to Texas by a combined 11 seconds.
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
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