KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team (20-8, 10-5) is set to continue the 2025-26 slate Saturday, as it takes on the No. 17/18 Alabama Crimson Tide (21-7, 11-4) at Food City Center. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch Tuesday’s game on ESPN and stream on the ESPN App. Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (color) will have the call.
Fans state-wide can tune in to their local Vol Network radio affiliate to hear Voice of the Vols Mike Keith and analyst Chris Lofton depict the action.
THE MATCHUP
• Tennessee is 7-3 in the last 10 series meetings, since 3/4/17. It won the last five games after the Crimson Tide took the prior three.
• UT’s five-game series winning streak is its third-best ever. It has won nine (1/6/68- 1/29/72) and eight (1/18/36 -2/11/38) in a row.
• Tennessee rallied from a 10-point deficit for a six-point road win in the sides’ first meeting this year (1/24/26). In the last matchup in Knoxville (3/1/25), the Vols were down by nine with under 10:00 left, including by four with 0:31 to go, and won on a buzzer-beater.
• Eleven of the series’ last 13 games, including nine of the past 10, had a single-digit scoring margin.
• UT has held Alabama to 70.9 ppg in nine outings during Nate Oats’ tenure, conceding a high of 76. The Tide’s is averaging 85.2 ppg in that span (85.8 versus non-UT foes).
• Coming off a 28-9 (13-5) showing with an Elite Eight bid last year, Alabama was picked fourth in the SEC preseason poll.
• Sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr., paces the Crimson Tide with 21.3 ppg, 4.8 apg and 1.2 spg.
NEWS & NOTES
• Rick Barnes was as an assistant at Alabama in 1985-86. After his departure, current UT assistant Gregg Polinsky replaced him on staff, working there from 1986-95.
• Cade Phillips is a Jacksonville, Ala., native. His father (John David Phillips), uncle (Brodie Croyle) and grandfather (John Croyle) played football at Alabama, while his mother (Reagan [Croyle] Phillips) played basketball there.
• DeWayne Brown II is a Hoover, Ala., native who won three 7A state titles at Hoover High School.
• J.P. Estrella and Taylor Bol Bowen were Brewster Academy (N.H.) teammates as seniors in 2022-23.
• Rick Barnes‘ 856 wins co-lead all active DI coaches and rank coninth all-time (min. 10 years in DI).
• The Vols have played three games (2-1) this year that did not include a lead of 10-plus either way.
• Tennessee is 28-10 (.737) in the second leg of regular season home-and-homes over the last nine years (2017-26).
• Felix Okpara’s next block will make him the 20th competitor to reach 100 as a Volunteer.
• Nate Ament is averaging 21.6 ppg the last 13 contests (16-plus in all).
• Tennessee is looking to reach 11- plus SEC wins for the fifth season in a row. It has done that just once previously, with a seven-year tally from 1970-71 to 1976-77.
• The Vols are also seeking 21-plus wins for the fifth straight year, which they have also done once before, from 2005-06 to 2009-10.
• UT’s 45.0 offensive rebounding percentage is on pace to be, per KenPom, the third-best mark this century. It trails only 2000-01 Michigan State (47.0) and 2000- 01 Georgetown (45.3).
• Tennessee, Alabama and Houston are the only schools to make the last three Sweet 16s. Tennessee, Alabama and Duke are the only three in the last two Elite Eights.
• UT finished a program-best fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and KenPom in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
• The Volunteers’ 221 wins the last nine years (2017-26) rank eighth in DI. Only Gonzaga (267), Houston (266), Duke (246), Kansas (233), Purdue (228), Saint Mary’s (226) and Liberty (222) possess more.
WINNING WAYS
• Over the last nine seasons (2017-26), Tennessee (221- 82; .729) paces all SEC programs in total victories, overall winning percentage and postseason victories (23). In that span, UT has three SEC titles (2018 and 2024 regular seasons, 2022 tournament).
• In that same period, the Volunteers are one of two SEC teams with even 205-plus wins and/or a winning percentage above .690, alongside Auburn (217-84; .721).
• Over SEC play across the same span, Tennessee (108-50; .684) is first in both league victories and league winning percentage. The only other schools at even 100-plus wins and/or a .610 clip are Kentucky (106-52; .671), Alabama (102-57; .642) and Auburn (102-57; .642).
• In just the last five seasons (2021-26), the Vols own a 129-44 (.746) overall record. That is good for the most total wins and the best winning percentage in the SEC, far ahead of Auburn (.728; 123-46).
• In that time, Tennessee (61-26; .701) is second in league victories and league winning percentage, behind only Alabama (62-25; .713).
SERIOUS STREAKS
• The Volunteers own 20 wins for the fifth season in a row. That ties the longest streak in program history, previously recorded both from 1980-81 to 194-85 and 2005-06 to 2009-10. It is UT’s seventh 20-win season in the last nine years and 32nd all-time.
• Tennessee has double-figure SEC victories for the sixth straight year. This is the second-longest streak in program history. The Vols had 10-plus SEC wins 13 seasons in a row from 1964-65 to 1976-77.
PARTICULARLY POTENT AT HOME
• Under Rick Barnes, Tennessee is 24-8 (.750) versus AP top-25 teams at Food City Center, including 19-2 (.905) in its last 21 such games (since 1/30/21).
• The Volunteers are 19-7 (.731) at home against AP top-20 teams in the Barnes era, including 15-2 (.882) in their last 17 such contests (since 1/30/21).
• Tennessee has a 16-5 (.762) mark when hosting AP top-15 squads under Barnes, including a 14-2 (.875) record in its last 16 such affairs (since 1/30/21).
• Barnes has led UT to a 9-1 (.900) ledger at home versus AP top-10 teams, with eight straight wins (since 3/2/19). That includes perfect marks against AP top-six foes (8-0) and versus SEC teams (7-0).
• Tennessee is a perfect 6-0 when hosting AP top-five teams in the Barnes era (all since 1/24/17). The six straight wins are an SEC record, per ESPN, surpassing the mark of five by Kentucky in 1978-84 and 1956-59.
• The Vols won 12 straight home games against AP top-25 foes from 1/30/21 to 2/28/24. That is an SEC record, per CBS Sports, and the longest in DI since Kansas had 17 straight from 1/11/14 to 2/13/17. Nine of those victories were versus top-15 foes, with five against the top 10 and three over top-five teams.
• Tennessee is 21-5 (.808) in AP top-25 home matchups under Barnes, including 15-5 (.750) with both teams in the top 20, 9-2 (.818) with both in the top 15 and 5-0 (1.000) with both in the top 10.
CONTAINING THE CRIMSON TIDE
• Tennessee earned a 79-73 win at #17 Alabama on 1/24/26, rallying from a 10-point first-half deficit for a fifth straight series win. Nate Ament had a careerhigh 29 points and Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 24.
• UT has now beat Alabama five-plus times in a row thrice in program history. This is the first instance since a nine-game stretch from 1/6/68 to 1/29/72.
• In addition, Tennessee has held Alabama to 76 points or fewer in all nine meetings since Nate Oats took over as head coach in 2019-20, allowing just 70.9 points per game. As of 1/24/26, the teams’ most recent meeting, the Crimson Tide was averaging 85.4 points per game against all other opponents during that seven-year stretch.
