High Point @ Tennessee preview

High Point at Tennessee

Tennessee continues its head-to-head clash with the Big South Conference when the Volunteers host High Point on Tuesday. While the teams have never squared off, history certainly is on Tennessee’s side as the Vols are 23-0 against current Big South schools, and the Panthers are 0-13 versus SEC opponents.

The Vols are facing their second straight Big South foe after they opened the season with an 88-53 rout of Presbyterian on Friday. Tennessee displayed a full-court press in the opener and forced the Blue Hose into 19 turnovers. “Our bench is deep so we know we can give it our all (on defense) and we’ve got someone who can get our back,” Tennessee forward John Fulkerson told reporters. “Then we’re just going to keep wearing them down with it.” The Vols might have their hands full at the defensive end against the Panthers, who opened the season with a 100-66 blowout of William & Mary in which they shot 60.7 percent from the floor.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus

ABOUT HIGH POINT (1-0): The Panthers had their streak of four straight regular-season Big South titles snapped last season, but they’ve reloaded with a couple of mid-major transfers who can fill up the stat sheet. Iona transfer Jahaad Proctor poured in 28 points and dished out six assists in his High Point debut, and Northeastern transfer Brandonn Kamga added 18 points and seven boards. That duo combines with junior Andre Fox, who collected 22 points and six rebounds against William & Mary, to give High Point plenty of scoring options.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (1-0): The Vols’ depth doesn’t only pay dividends at the defensive end, as 12 players scored against Presbyterian with junior swingman Admiral Schofield matching his career-high with 22 points. Tennessee had a strong freshman class a year ago, and sophomores Jordan Bowden (15 points) and Grant Williams (14 points, seven rebounds) picked up where they left off in the opener. Tennessee shot 56.9 percent against the Blue Hose and only got two points from James Daniel III, a graduate transfer from Howard who led the nation in scoring two years ago and entered the season averaging 21.5 points throughout his career.

TIP-INS

1. The Vols have won eight straight non-conference home games.

2. Tennessee freshman F Yves Pons played only four minutes Friday before leaving with an ankle injury but he is expected to play Tuesday.

3. High Point was 8-for-15 from 3-point range against the Tribe with Proctor going 6-for-7 from behind the arc.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 87, High Point 75