GAME THREAD: No. 19 Tennessee @ Mississippi State

Ben_McKee · Feb 9, 2022

Good Wednesday evening to ya. Hope you're ready for tonight's 9 p.m. ET tip on ESPN2 between No. 19 Tennessee (16-6, 7-3 SEC) and Mississippi State (14-8, 5-4 SEC). Updates and coverage coming your way from myself and Rob, but in the meantime, here's some notes on Tennessee to know for tonight...

First game without Olivier Nkamhoua

Tennessee leads the all-time series with Mississippi State, 86-44, dating to 1924
- Vols are 30-29 when playing in Starkville
- Tennessee has won 5 of its last 6 games against State
- Rick Barnes is 10-3 all-time against Ben Howland

For the 4th time under Rick Barnes, Tennessee is on a five game SEC winning streak
Vols rank top 15 in steals per game (10.0, eighth), turnover margin (+4.7, ninth), assists (17.0, 11th) and turnovers forced (17.4, 15th).
According to KenPom, Vols rank 8th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing only 88.4 points per 100 possessions.
Tennessee averages an SEC-best 16.2 assists per game during league play (162 assists on 243 FGs)
- Vols also are making a league-best 9.2 3-pointers per game in SEC play

Tonight is John Fulkerson’s 153rd career game, which is the most of any SEC player ever.

And here's what you need to know about Mississippi State...

Projected Mississippi State (14-8, 5-4 SEC) starting lineup:

G, Iverson Molinar, Jr. — All-SEC Preseason First-Team Pick
- the only SEC player to score in double figures every game his team has played in this season
  - One of four players in the country to do so
- This season: 18.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 49.1 FG%, 27.6 3P%, 88.8 FT%
  - 18.2 points is 3rd, 88.8 FT% is 1st, 49.1 FG% is 3rd, 2.02 assist/turnover Ratio is 4th, 4.0 assists is 8th in the SEC
  - 1 of 2 SEC players and 1 of 8 Power 5 players to ranked among their league’s top 10 in points, assists and FG%
G, Shakeel Moore, So. — NC State transfer
- This season: 9.9 points, 41.9 FG%, 36.2 3P%, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.7 steals
- has collected multiple steals on 12 occasions this season
F, D.J. Jeffries, Jr. — Memphis transfer
- This season: 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 blocks, 41.4 FG%, 31.9 3P%
- Mississippi State is 10-2 when Jeffries scores in double figures
F, Garrison Brooks, Gr. — North Carolina transfer
- This season: 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds (9th in SEC), 0.7 blocks, 0.7 assists, 48.3 FG%, 34.7 3P%
- is the leading rebounder among SEC active players and is 2nd among Power 5 players with 944 career rebounds
F, Tolu Smith, R-Jr.
- the SEC’s defending rebounding champion and notched the most double-doubles among SEC players in 2020-21
- This season: 12.9 points, 6.6 rebounds (10th in SEC), 1.2 steals, 1.0 assist, 57.7 FG% (2nd in SEC)
- Has only played in nine games this season
- If he qualified for the SEC leaderboard, would rank 2nd in FG%, 10th in rebounds and 17th in points

Key Mississippi State bench players:

G/F, Cameron Matthews, So.
- Averaging 3.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.1 minutes
  - Shooting 59.2% from the field and is just 4/10 from three this year
  - Started 10 times in place of Tolu Smith in 2021-22
F, Javian Davis, R-Jr. — Alabama transfer
- Averaging 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 14.5 minutes
  - Shooting 50% from the field — hasn’t taken a three this year
G, Rocket Watts, Jr. — Michigan State transfer
- Averaging 4.9 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 13.8 minutes
  - Shooting 44% from the field and 30.8% from three
G/F, Andersson Garcia, So.
- Averaging 3.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 13.0 minutes
  - Shooting 53.1% from the field and 3/12 from three this year
F, Derek Fountain, So.
- Averaging 2.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 10.4 minutes
  - Shooting 37.5% from the field and 2/10 from three this year
G, Cam Carter, Fr.
- Averaging 2.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 7.4 minutes
  - Shooting 44.8% from the field and 3/10 from three this year

43rd in KenPom entering the game — KenProm projects a 70-67 Tennessee win
- Gives Tennessee a 60% change of winning
61st in average height (77.8”)
70th in strength of schedule
217th in experience (1.75 years)
222nd in bench minutes (29.8%)
256th in average possession length (18.1)
261st in minutes continuity (36.8%)
288th in adjusted tempo (65.6)

Mississippi has won 10 of 11 games when at least four players score 10-plus points
State is 5-0 at home during SEC play this season.

Mississippi State’s offensive strengths: — 28th in adjusted offensive efficiency (112.8)

2nd in the SEC in FG% (47.1)
19th in offensive rebound% (34.7)
37th in FTA/FGA (36.2)
87th in effective FG% (52.1)
- 51st nationally in 2P% per KenPom (53.5)
  - 57.2% of points comes from two (29th)
94th in block% (8.0)

Mississippi State’s offensive weaknesses:

143rd in FT% (72.6)
- 20.2% of points comes from free throws (60th)
144th in A/FGM (52.4)
195th in turnover% (18.9)
- 157th in non-steal TO% (91)
- 227th in steal% (9.8)
232nd in 3P% (32.4)
- 334th in 3PA/FGA (30.3)
- 22.6% of points comes from three (348th)

Mississippi State’s defensive strengths: — 81st in defensive efficiency (98.1)

2nd in the SEC in rebounding margin (+7.5)
3rd in defensive rebounding percentage (75.8)
- Ranks 15th nationally
32nd in steal% (12.1)
40th in offensive rebound% (24.2)
68th in block% (11.7)
102nd in FTA/FGA (27.2)

Mississippi State’s defensive weaknesses:

143rd in TO% (19.2)
163rd in 3P% (33.3)
- 35.8% of opponent points come from three (56th)
195th in effective FG% (50.2)
209th in 2P% (50.4)
- 47.9% of opponent points come from three (255th)
211th in FT% (71.9)
- 16.3% of opponent points come from three (244th)
295th in A/FGM (55.7)
313th in 3PA/FGA (42.9)
342nd in non-steal TO% (7.2)

Refs for tonight's game: (Rank per KenPom)

Doug Sirmons (No. 16)
Terry Wymer (No. 30)
Don Dailey (No. 32)

TV Crew (ESPN2):

Tom Hart (pxp)
Jimmy Dykes (analyst)

DMcVol · Feb 9, 2022