December 22, 2024

Tennessee vs Georgia Tech preview

Tennessee and Georgia Tech will be meeting in Atlanta for the second season in a row. Here is what you need to know about the game.

Photo by Brad Blackwelder

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee sophomore guard #25 Shembari Phillips waits for Missouri's offense to bring the ball down the court during the Vols' game against the Tigers on Feb. 18, 2017, in Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3) is coming off an embarrassing loss on Friday to Grambling State, and will try to bounce back at home against the promising Tennessee Volunteers (5-1). The Yellow Jackets are concluding a six-game homestand, having played three games last week and three games this week. Georgia Tech’s next road game will come on Wednesday at Wofford.

The Volunteers are coming off a home win against Mercer on Wednesday. Tennessee’s only loss came from No. 5 Villanova. The Vols were projected to finish 13th in the SEC but are starting to turn some heads with its play from Grant Williams, who is averaging 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Tennessee also has a bevy of great guards in Jordan Bone, James Daniel, and Jordan Bowden. The Vols play has been nothing but dominant, and have found a spark in their solid defense. Tennessee will cruise into Atlanta as four-point favorites.

This is going to be a big early-season challenge for Georgia Tech. The Jackets have had an interesting start to their season after two losses to UCLA and Grambling State. Yellow Jackets center Ben Lammers is averaging 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks-per-game. Jose Alvarado has also been very important to the Yellow Jackets by averaging 14 points and showing great leadership in the back court. Tadric Jackson completes Georgia Tech’s backcourt duo with 14 points-per-game as well.

Shembari Phillips, who is a guard sitting out the season for the Yellow Jackets after transferring from Tennessee, had a standout game for the Vols in last year’s meeting with Georgia Tech, with 14 points, seven assists and just one turnover .The Yellow Jackets have been playing great defense, allowing just 59 points-per-game, which is 13th in the country.  With Tennessee scoring 79 points-per-game, it could be a close matchup.

Edited by Seth Raborn

Photo courtesy of UT Sports