Tennessee @ VCU preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2014 ) Tennessee 69, VCU 85

Tennessee and VCU had every right to believe they would be squaring off in the title game of the Emerald Coast Classic after entering the weekend as the only undefeated teams in the event. With their championship dreams dashed, the 16th-ranked Volunteers and 19th-ranked Rams hope to avoid a winless stay in Niceville, Fla. on Saturday when they meet each other in the third-place game.

After opening the season with five straight double-digit victories, Tennessee set season lows in points and field-goal percentage (33.3) in a 60-57 loss to Florida State, although the Volunteers' cause wasn't helped by Lamonte Turner needing to leave the game twice due to cramps. "We can't play with one offensive player on the floor. When guys are open, they should shoot their shots," coach Rick Barnes said in reference to his senior point guard, who led all scorers with a season-high 20 points but also committed a career-high eight turnovers. VCU had its chances to avoid a similar fate, but the Rams could muster only one point over the final two minutes of their 59-56 setback against Purdue in the nightcap. Marcus Santos-Silva was the only VCU player to reach double figures with 19 points, but he missed three of his final four free throws during the critical stretch.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT TENNESSEE (5-1): Junior swingman Yves Pons (13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks), who posted his first career double-double Friday with 13 points and 10 boards, was one of only two Volunteers to make at least half of his field-goal attempts (4-for-8), and he also blocked three shots for the third straight game. Jordan Bowden (15.7 points, 5.2 rebounds) also reached double figures with 11 points but is shooting 9-for-25 from the field over the last two games after beginning the season 24-for-50. Freshman guard Josiah-Jordan James, who tied a season high with nine points and added seven boards, has corralled 27 rebounds but is only 5-of-19 from the field over the last three contests.

ABOUT VCU (6-1): Santos-Silva (12.6 points, 9.3 rebounds) converted eight of his 10 field-goal attempts and more than doubled his offensive production from the previous two games combined, but the 6-7 junior was held to two rebounds after grabbing no fewer than seven in the previous six contests. Leading scorer Marcus Evans (13.9 points) struggled more than any other Ram, following his 25-point effort in Monday's win over Alabama State with a season-low six points on 1-of-9 from the field to go along with five turnovers. De'Riante Jenkins and Mike'L Simms each chipped in nine points and knocked down a 3-pointer, but VCU ultimately could not overcome a 3-of-17 performance beyond the arc and 21 turnovers.

TIP-INS

1. Tennessee entered Friday leading the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) before committing 21 turnovers and recording five assists against Florida State.

2. Jenkins has recorded multiple thefts in five straight outings, averaging 3.2 over that span.

3. Pons has at least three blocks in five of six games.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 66, VCU 61