TV: SEC Network

Time: 4 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—The struggling Vols (8-7, 0-3) look to get back on track today when they battle Mississippi State (7-8, 2-1). Tennessee comes into the game favored by double-digits and desperately needing a win to keep waning postseason hopes alive. The Vols are 0-3 in conference play for the first time since the 1997-98 season and are one of four winless teams in SEC action. Mississippi State boasts conference wins over Georgia and South Carolina, but is coming off a 32-point home loss to Alabama.

The Vols need Stokes to be more aggressive.
Photo by Reed Carringer

Offense: Tennessee played well enough to win for the most part in road losses at Alabama and Kentucky, but key turnovers in each game proved too much to overcome. In their last two losses, the Vols have just 18 assists but have committed 29 turnovers. Put simply, the Vols must take better care of the ball if they hope to revive a season on life support.

Trae Golden and Jarnell Stokes were both named to preseason All-SEC teams and need to start playing like it. Golden has battled a shoulder injury but appears to be regaining his health, while Stokes has looked lost on offense at times. Cuonzo has repeatedly challenged Stokes and Golden to be more active on the offensive end. Look for the Vols to feed Stokes the ball in the paint early and often, and if Trae Golden is aggressively driving to the hoop, Mississippi State will be in for a long afternoon.

Defense: Tennessee will key on Knoxville-native Jalen Steele. The Fulton graduate is scoring 10.6 points per game, shooting 39% from 3, and is the lone Bulldog averaging in double- figures. Steele struggled in State’s home loss to Alabama (5 points, 2-8 shooting), but scored 21 points in a road win against Georgia last week. Look for Vol forward Josh Richardson to defend Steele most of the game.

Prediction: The Vols win handily. Mississippi State doesn’t have the weapons to cause serious problems for Tennessee, especially when the Vols are playing at home. Jordan McRae will continue his brilliant play and post his fifth consecutive 20-point game. McRae ranks second in the league in scoring at 23.3 points per game, and is the first Vol to score 20+ points in four straight games since Chris Lofton in 2008.

Notes: This is a huge recruiting weekend for the Vol football team. The entire Vol coaching staff will be introduced on the court and Tennessee’s official visitors will be in attendance. Former Vol and current San Diego Padre Chase Headley will also be honored during the game.