After starting SEC play 0-2, Rick Barnes has his Tennessee Volunteers playing some good basketball as they come into Columbia on a three-game win streak. The 21st ranked Vols picked up wins over Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M.
Cuonzo on Tennessee:
The same issues popped up for Mizzou on Saturday when they were unable to hold a lead. The Tigers came back from an 18-point deficit at Arkansas and led 59-53 with less than five minutes to play, but lost 65-62. The Tigers’ last three losses, including two in SEC play, have been by a combined 10 points.
Counzo on cleaning up late game issues:
SCOUTING MIZZOU
• Mizzou’s 164 three-pointers rank as the most in school history through 17 games, ahead of the 1999-2000 season’s 155.
• The Tigers are shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range during conference play to rank first in the SEC. Mizzou ranks second in the league from the free throw line (.816) in league action.
• Kassius Robertson has averaged 16.0 points per game overall, but against SEC teams, Robertson’s scoring average jumps up to 19.0 points per game — ranking second in the conference.
• Jordan Barnett is averaging 18.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game over the Tigers’ last 12 games. In that stretch, Barnett has scored in double-figures in 11-of-12 games and is converting 52.0 percent of his field goal attempts (65-125 FG) and 49.3 percent of his three-pointers (36-73 3PT).
• Freshman forward Jontay Porter is one of just three players nationally to have compiled both 35 assists (36) and 35 blocks (38) this season, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
• Third-year head coach Rick Barnes has Tennessee out to a 12-4 start overall, with the Volunteers picking up road wins at Georgia Tech (Dec. 3, 77-70), at Wake Forest (Dec. 23, 79-60) and at Vanderbilt (Jan. 9, 92-84) thus far in their 2017-18 campaign.
• Sophomore forward Grant Williams and junior forward Admiral Schofield have led the Volunteers during SEC action, scoring 19.6 points and 16.6 points per game, respectively. Schofield has pulled down 7.8 rebounds per game in Tennessee’s first five league contests.
• Tennessee has averaged 84.0 points per game in five conference games, while allowing 80.0 points per game to its opponents.
Tip off tonight is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.
