South Carolina @ Tennessee preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 13, 2019 ) South Carolina 73, Tennessee 85

Santiago Vescovi has played only two games but his impact has been undeniable for Tennessee, which will host South Carolina on Saturday in an SEC game. The freshman was immediately inserted into the starting lineup upon his arrival and has done some things - good and bad - for the Volunteers, who have won four straight games against the Gamecocks.

The 30 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and eight 3-pointers that Vescovi, a native of Uruguay, put up in his first two college games certainly have to be viewed as positives for a Tennessee team that is thin at point guard following an injury to Lamonte Turner, whose season and career was ended by Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The 14 turnovers, including nine in an SEC-opening loss to LSU Jan. 4, are not all that surprising, but have likely been addressed by coach Rick Barnes. "He's adjusting way easier than I would if I went to Uruguay," senior Jordan Bowden told the media of Vescovi, who signed with Tennessee on Nov. 22 after playing for the NBA Global Academy in Australia. "He's tough. He's a competitor and he has a lot of fight in him. I love that about him." The Gamecocks have dropped two straight games and in the process have surrendered 95 points to the opposition's guards - a bad sign with Bowden, Vescovi and Yves Pons up next.

TIME: 1 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (8-6, 0-1 SEC): Jair Bolden was the Gamecock's best player in a 70-59 victory over No. 18 Virginia prior to Christmas, scoring 22 points and hitting four 3-pointers, but has since gone cold. The junior, who leads the Gamecocks and is 10th in the SEC in 3-point shooting (38 percent), was 1-of-8 from deep and scored 12 total points in the last two games, including zero points against Stetson in 15 minutes. A showdown against the Volunteers, who have permitted their opponents to make 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, should offer Bolden a chance to heat up again.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (9-5, 1-1 SEC): Another freshman guard - Josiah-Jordan James - has been with the Volunteers since the beginning of the season and has become a steady contributor over the last month. After not producing a game in double figures in November, the South Carolina native has five such contests since. In that span, James has averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and three assists while giving the Volunteers another solid shooter from beyond the arc to go along with Vescovi and Pons, who is shooting 37.2 percent from deep this season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pons, who posted three blocks in each of the last two games, is second in the SEC and was tied for 24th in the nation entering Friday with 2.43 per game.

2. Tennessee has taken nine of the last 11 meetings at home and 20 of the last 24 overall against South Carolina to secure a 46-27 advantage in the series.

3. The Volunteers have averaged SEC highs of 16 assists and 17.5 turnovers in conference games.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 74, South Carolina 64