By Abby Doperak
Tennessee will host Alabama on Saturday, looking to reassert itself after a tough loss.
The No. 22 Volunteers enter the matchup fresh off a 73-69 loss to unranked Missouri. Tennessee committed 15 turnovers in the defeat, contributing to an uncharacteristic performance.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes attributed the loss in part to his team’s pace of play.
“We were just playing way too fast,” Barnes said. “[You] couldn’t see the floor of the game because guys were just playing way too fast, and when you play like that, you are going to make those kinds of mistakes.”
Alabama defeated Mississippi State 100-75 on Wednesday night. The Crimson tide were led by Amari Allen, who scored 23 points after not appearing in the previous matchup against Tennessee.
Tennessee and No. 17 Alabama met last month in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the Volunteers secured a 79-73 victory. Despite winning the previous matchup, Tennessee is not taking Saturday’s game lightly.
“We are getting ready to play a team that had two of their key players out in Tuscaloosa and is arguably the hottest team in the league right now,” Barnes said. “Regardless of if we are on the road or home, we are gonna have to play.”
Barnes also praised senior forward Felix Okpara’s performance against Missouri. Okpara finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Tennessee forward Nate Ament scored 17 points in the loss.
In the previous meeting between the teams, Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. led his team with 26 points, while Ament had 29.
“He [Ament] is going to be okay,” Okpara said. “He is going to find his footing, and he always delivers when it’s time to deliver.”
Tennessee fans may recall the last time Alabama played in Food City Center, when former Volunteer Jahmai Mashack hit a 35-foot buzzer-beater to lift Tennessee to a 79-76 win last season.
“I remember it being a tough game,” Okpara said. “Alabama is a good team regardless, and they are always good every year. I know it is going to be a tough game tomorrow.”
Tennessee will face Alabama in Knoxville this Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.