Time: 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN2

OXFORD—The Vols (9-7, 1-3 SEC) are winless on the road this year but looking to change that when they take on Ole Miss (15-2, 4-0 SEC) tonight. In their last meeting, the Rebels handed the Vols a double-digit home defeat, 92-74. Tennessee enters the contest as a 9-point underdog and needs a win to get back in the NCAA Tournament hunt. This is the Vols’ first game since picking up their first SEC win of the season, a home victory over Mississippi State. Conversely, Ole Miss has won seven consecutive games since an overtime loss to Indiana State and is undefeated at home.

Golden scored 10 points and dished out 9 assists Saturday.
Photo by Reed Carringer

Offense: Stokes and Golden are clearly the key cogs in the Tennessee offense. When they play well, the Vols look like a contender in the SEC. When they don’t, they look like a bottom-dweller. Cuonzo doesn’t need outstanding performances from these two, he just needs them to take care of the ball and be aggressive on offense. In Tennessee’s last game against Mississippi State, Stokes grabbed his fourth double-double of the season (18 points, 11 rebounds) while slumping point guard Trae Golden turned in his best effort in weeks (10 points, nine assists). If Stokes and Golden can put in similar efforts tonight, the Vols should be in line for an upset win.

Defense: One name: Marshall Henderson. The Vols absolutely must find a way to slow the Rebels’ explosive guard. He dropped 32 on UT in Knoxville and Tennessee obviously can’t afford Henderson that kind of performance tonight. Josh Richardson will be tasked with blanketing Henderson most of the evening. Henderson is the type of player who plays with great emotion. If Tennessee can be physical with him without fouling and frustrate him early, it should throw him off his game. If the Vols can
limit him to near his season average (18.9 points per game), that should be deemed a success.

Prediction: Tennessee played just well enough to lose at Alabama and Kentucky in their last two road outings. The game will likely come down to one or two plays down the stretch, and the Vols will have to execute in those key situations if they are going to pick up the road victory. If Golden and Stokes play well, and Tennessee limits turnovers, the Vols should pick up an upset win; yet, until the Vols prove they can win on the road, we can’t justifiably pick them. Ole Miss wins a close one, but don’t be too surprised if the Vols leave Oxford with an upset win.