Missouri @ Tennessee preview

Missouri at Tennessee

Last Meeting ( Jan 8, 2019 ) Tennessee 87, Missouri 63

After rolling to two lopsided road wins last week, top-ranked Tennessee looks to push its program-record winning streak to 17 games when it opens a three-game homestand against Missouri on Tuesday. The Volunteers have won 20 straight contests at home.

Tennessee cruised to a 22-point win at South Carolina and a 17-point victory at Texas A&M last week to preserve its top ranking. The Vols have won eight of their last 11 games by at least 17 points. The Tigers snapped a three-game skid with a 77-67 home win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, even as 3-point sharpshooter Mark Smith missed his third straight game with an ankle injury. The Vols won 87-63 at Missouri on Jan. 8.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT MISSOURI (11-9, 2-6 SEC): The Tigers are the SEC’s top 3-point shooting team at 37.6 percent, although they haven’t been quite as lethal from long range without Smith, who leads the league at 47.5 percent. Jordan Geist (13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) has scored in double figures in 14 of his last 17 games and has carried the weight in Smith’s absence, but freshman guards Xavier Pinson, Torrence Watson and Javon Pickett combined for 33 points against Vanderbilt. Jeremiah Tilmon (10.9 points, 5.9 rebounds) also had a big performance versus the Commodores with 19 points and eight boards, marking the first time in his career that he has scored 15 or more points in three consecutive games.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (20-1, 8-0): The Vols have assembled an offensive juggernaut and are shooting 51.6 percent from the field - second-best in the nation. Grant Williams (20.4 points, 7.5 rebounds) and Admiral Schofield (16.8, 6.5) lead a balanced scoring attack, and point guard Jordan Bone (13.6, 6.6 assists) has plenty of options regarding distribution of the ball. Lamonté Turner (12.3 points) has re-emerged as another offensive threat since battling a nagging shoulder injury early in the season and is averaging 18.3 points over his last three contests.

TIP-INS

1. Missouri has not defeated a top-ranked team since beating No. 1 Kansas in double overtime on Feb. 4, 1997.

2. Tennessee has scored 40 or more points in the paint in 14 games this season, including each of the last five.

3. The Tigers are 11-0 when holding opponents under 70 points, but the Vols’ season low came in a 71-68 win over Alabama.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 81, Missouri 69