Two nationally ranked programs looking for early season momentum: Louisville at Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

A marquee early-season college basketball matchup is the  headline for ESPN viewing tonight. It is set to be a competitive test between two nationally ranked programs.

Momentum is on the line tonight. The Cards have only lost one time on the road this season. They want to continue that effort. The Vols have lost three in a row. They want to turn the page from that course. The history of these programs gives the advantage to Louisville as well. Although under Barnes, Tennessee leads matchups with teams from  the ACC. He is 85-78 against current ACC members. He is 15-6 at UT, including 8-2 since 2021. 

This is the first time in the series history where both of these teams are ranked.  The series started with Tennessee dominating Louisville in the first 6 games back in 1913. 

Storylines To Watch

• Louisville’s offense is firing.The Cardinals are coming off a dominant 99-73 win over Memphis, showcasing their scoring ability from both inside and outside the arc with high efficiency and balanced contributions. They average 90 plus ppg so far this season. They are led by senior guard Ryan Connell with 19.4 ppg.

• Tennessee looking to rebound. The Volunteers enter the contest with a three-game losing streak, their first skid of the season. The Vols are eager to get back on track in front of the home crowd. 

• It’s a top 20 ranked showdown. Both teams remain firmly in the AP Top 25, making this one of the most compelling non-conference matchups on college basketball’s Tuesday schedule. 

• Oddsmakers currently list Louisville as the slight favorite in a game expected to be closely contested. 

• Two freshmen will lead on the court for Tennessee. Dewayne Brown and Nate Ament are both prepared to lead their developing  team against an experienced opponent. 

You can hear more about Dewayne Brown on TPL Tennessee

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Tennessee Basketball Freshmen Troy Henderson and Dwayne Brown get personal on More Than Hoops

Hosts Grant Hurst and Cade Phillips sit down with Tennessee freshmen Troy Henderson and Dwayne Brown for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at life inside Tennessee Volunteers Basketball. From late-night workouts to the electric atmosphere of Thompson-Boling Arena, this episode goes beyond the highlights — exploring the mindset, brotherhood, and mental toughness that define what it means to play for Coach Rick Barnes and the Big Orange. 🏀 Inside this episode: - The freshmen’s origin stories and when they knew basketball was more than a dream - The family-first culture that drives Tennessee basketball - Mental health, balance, and staying grounded under pressure - The impact of Coach Barnes’ lifetime contract and new assistant coaches - Game reflections from the season opener - NBA inspirations — from KD to Jimmy Butler - A fun Fast Break round that gives fans a glimpse at the team’s personality Whether you’re a lifelong Vol or new to the orange-and-white, this episode shows why Tennessee’s future is in great hands. 📍 Recorded in Knoxville, TN 🎧 Listen now where you get your podcasts and subscribe for more exclusive access to Tennessee Basketball! Tags Sec basketball - ncaa basketball - Cade Phillips - Grant Hurst - coach Rick Barnes - college hoops - leadership - brotherhood - Tennessee basketball

Your Projected Starters For #11 Louisville 

0 Ja'Kobi Gillespie Sr. G 6-1 188 Greeneville, Tenn.

17.3 ppg - 2.7 rpg - 5.4 apg-  81.5 FT% 32p, 8r, 11a, 7s, 2b, 40m

Three NPOY watch lists; Preseason Second Team AlI-SEC; 2024-25 Third Team All-BIG: 2023-24 Second Team All-MVC

3 Bishop Boswell

So. G 6-4 204 Charlotte, N.C.

6.0 apg - 4.0 rpg - 2.1 ppg - 1.9 SPG 10p, 8r, 5a, 3s, 1b, 32m

Career highs in PTS (10), FGM (4), STL (3) & MIN (32) vs. Houston; 28 GP as frosh, all off bench: Four-star, top-75 recruit in '24

10 Nate Ament

Fr. F

6-10 207 Manassas, Va.

16.3 apg - 7.1rpg - 2.8apg - 1.6 SPG - 23p, 10r, 5a, 4s, 1b, 33m

3X SEC Frosh. of Week: Four NPOY watch lists; Preseason Second Team All-SEC: Top-four prospect: UT's third top-five recruit

6 DeWayne Brown II Fr. F

6-8 251 Hoover, Ala.

5.5 ppg - 3.1 rpg - 0.8 apg - 66.7 FG% 13p, 5r, 3a, 1s, 1b, 16m

Shooting 80.0% at FT line (12-15); 3x AHSAA 7A state champion, 2x ASWA 7A POY; Four-star, top-105 recruit (No. 71 by ESPN)

34 Felix Okpara

Sr. F 6-11 243 Lagos, Nigeria

7.7 ppg -  5.7 rpg - 0.4 apt - 1.7 BPG - 16p, 15r, 2a, 4s, 5b, 35m

_No. 2 among active players with 208 DI BLK: 58.9 F% last year (No. 7 in DI w/69 dunks); Co-No. 4 on UT season list w/64 BLK

Key Matchup Factors

• Tempo and shooting

• Rebounding and defense

  
  

This high-profile non-conference game could have implications for both teams’ NCAA Tournament résumés down the road. 

Coach Barnes said yesterday that they have addressed several issues as a team. He said the attitudes were good with the ball screen correction: 

“There were a lot of things we had to work on and keep working on. I thought their attitudes were really good. We will see here moving forward.” 

He continued with details about practice and quoted legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight, who once said the mental aspect is 4 to 1 compared to the physical. He reiterated: 

“We’re gonna see, if we can get better when the lights come on.”

Jaylen Carey also met with media before practice.  He said focusing on turnovers was the biggest emphasis. 

“I feel like we have turned the ball over too much recently” 

 Attention to physical toughness was also mentioned by Carey as a focus. 

“It comes down to one or two possessions. I feel like the grit. The grit to want to win more. I feel like we just got to bring that more.” 

One way Barnes has motivated the turnover focus in practice is with balloons. Each time a turnover happens in practice, they pop a balloon. When they are all popped, the team runs. The team has had a week of no games for just practice time. According to assistant coach Justin Gainey, the drill is helping to foster better communication and teamwork.

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Practice Turns Into A Game Tonight -

⏰ Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

📍 Venue: Food City Center, Knoxville, Tennessee

📺 TV: ESPN — available on cable/satellite providers

📱 Streaming: ESPN App / WatchESPN for live mobile and connected-device viewing. You can watch here:  

📻 Radio: Local Vol Network affiliates carry live radio coverage with commentary from Mike Keith and Chris Lofton. You can listen here: