Final Nov 21
JMU 99 -3.0 o146.0
UIC 81 3.0 u146.0
Final Nov 21
MIA 69 -9.0 o143.0
DRKE 80 9.0 u143.0
Final OT Nov 21
OHIO 81 -2.0 o146.5
MTU 83 2.0 u146.5
Final Nov 21
LAS 67 -1.5 o144.0
UCSD 72 1.5 u144.0
Final Nov 21
OKST 78 2.0 o163.0
FAU 86 -2.0 u163.0
Final Nov 21
USF 74 -6.5 o145.5
PORT 68 6.5 u145.5
Final Nov 21
ECU 78 -4.0 o135.0
JVST 86 4.0 u135.0
Final Nov 21
MONM 62 4.5 o146.5
YSU 72 -4.5 u146.5
Final OT Nov 21
HALL 69 7.0 o126.0
VCU 66 -7.0 u126.0
Final Nov 21
BRAD 82 -7.0 o135.5
TXST 68 7.0 u135.5
Final Nov 21
TOL 103 -13.0 o154.5
STET 78 13.0 u154.5
Final Nov 21
RMU 86 9.5 o151.5
COR 76 -9.5 u151.5
Final Nov 21
UNCG 58 17.5 o146.5
IND 69 -17.5 u146.5
Final Nov 21
RAD 51 22.0 o144.5
CLEM 79 -22.0 u144.5
Final Nov 21
SYR 66 11.0 o155.0
TEX 70 -11.0 u155.0
Final Nov 21
NIAG 73 14.0 o136.5
KENT 76 -14.0 u136.5
Final 0OT Nov 21
BAY 99 -2.5 o150.5
SJU 98 2.5 u150.5
Final Nov 21
EMU 68 7.0 o134.5
OAK 64 -7.0 u134.5
Final Nov 21
EDW 59 -0.0 o0.0
UNF 108 0.0 u0.0
Final Nov 21
JOHNSU 52 -0.0 o0.0
CHAT 72 0.0 u0.0
Final Nov 21
BRY 66 -12.5 o153.0
STONE 67 12.5 u153.0
Final Nov 21
NJIT 64 12.5 o135.0
BUCK 81 -12.5 u135.0
Final Nov 21
MER 72 18.5 o150.0
SCAR 84 -18.5 u150.0
Final OT Nov 21
SEMO 77 1.5 o149.5
CARK 73 -1.5 u149.5
Final OT Nov 21
PRE 58 8.5 o135.0
SFA 55 -8.5 u135.0
Final Nov 21
VAN 73 2.5 o150.5
NEV 71 -2.5 u150.5
Final Nov 21
TRN 78 -0.0 o0.0
SHSU 105 0.0 u0.0
Final Nov 21
MINCR 60 -0.0 o0.0
NDSU 67 0.0 u0.0
Final Nov 21
46 -0.0 o0.0
WIU 73 0.0 u0.0
Final Nov 21
TXWES 66 -0.0 o0.0
UNT 73 0.0 u0.0
Final Nov 21
ORU 68 21.5 o149.5
MISS 100 -21.5 u149.5
Final Nov 21
LNDNWD 64 9.5 o145.0
VALP 77 -9.5 u145.0
Final Nov 21
CCSU 54 -2.0 o142.0
SH 67 2.0 u142.0
Final Nov 21
PRIN 62 -7.5 o152.5
WRST 80 7.5 u152.5
Final Nov 21
UTM 77 11.5 o155.5
AMCC 81 -11.5 u155.5
Final Nov 21
TAMCOM 56 24.5 o144.5
OKLA 84 -24.5 u144.5
Final Nov 21
TST 49 31.0 o147.0
MICH 72 -31.0 u147.0
Final Nov 21
TTU 77 -10.5 o149.5
STJOE 78 10.5 u149.5
Final Nov 21
GRAM 58 23.5 o152.5
UNM 80 -23.5 u152.5
Final Nov 21
TENN 64 -12.5 o126.5
UVA 42 12.5 u126.5
Final Nov 21
EWU 81 14.0 o158.5
WSU 96 -14.0 u158.5
Final Nov 21
AFA 69 16.0 o136.0
CAL 78 -16.0 u136.0
Final Nov 21
ORE 78 -6.5 o139.5
ORST 75 6.5 u139.5
Final Nov 21
MEM 68 2.0 o154.5
SF 64 -2.0 u154.5
Auburn 1st Southeastern27-4
Tennessee 3rd Southeastern23-7

Auburn @ Tennessee preview

Thompson-Boling Arena

Last Meeting ( Feb 27, 2021 ) Tennessee 72, Auburn 77

As the season has progressed, so too has Auburn's Walker Kessler.

From November, when he averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks against modest competition, to this month, when his numbers are pumped up to 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.6 blocks against rugged competition in the Southeast Conference, it's clear that the 7-foot-1 Kessler is a blossoming force.

Saturday afternoon, when No. 3 Auburn (25-3, 13-2) meets No. 17 Tennessee (20-7, 11-4) in Knoxville, Tenn., it will be another chance to see how far Kessler has come.

The difference between Kessler's game now compared to last year at North Carolina is startling. With a Tar Heels team that was mediocre (18-11) by the standards of the blue blood franchise, Kessler played just 8.8 minutes per game, averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.

Even Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is surprised by Kessler's transformation.

"You just can't believe some of the stuff he can get," Pearl said of Kessler's shot-blocking ability. "When he's playing well, he's got as much impact as any player in college basketball, because he impacts the rim both offensively and defensively. He's the best shot-blocker I've ever had."

Wednesday night in a 77-64 win over Ole Miss, Kessler accumulated 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks. If Kessler had been needed for more than the 28 minutes he played, he might have registered his third triple-double of the season. He's the only player in the nation with two.

Combined with Auburn's leading scorer (16.2 points per game) and potential NBA No. 1 draft choice, 6-10 Jabari Smith, the Tigers boast a devastating frontcourt. Smith had 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists against Ole Miss.

As it tries to maintain its lead in the SEC, Auburn will be tested by a Tennessee team that is undefeated (14-0) at home with wins over ranked teams Kentucky, Arizona and LSU.

The Volunteers had an impressive tuneup Tuesday night at Missouri, winning 80-61, as Kennedy Chandler had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists, continuing to show his growth after an inconsistent start to his college career.

"Kennedy was spot on with the balance we need him to have," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. "He is a different player than he was back in December."

Four weeks into the season, the freshman point guard hit 13 of 20 shots, scoring 27 points in a win at Colorado. The performance seemed to be a breakout and a preview of what was to come. But Chandler struggled the rest of December, making just 14 of 47 shots and averaging 10.2 points in the following four games.

"It looked so easy for him early in the year. In some ways, I thought that was a curse," Barnes said. "He has just matured so much in understanding and learning there is so much more to the game than what he thought."

This will be the only regular-season meeting of the teams this year. While Tennessee holds a 78-44 edge in the series, Auburn has won the past six games, a streak that dates to the 2017-18 season.

-Field Level Media

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