Tennessee vs South Carolina: Season Shifter

0:00On March 2nd, the 23rd ranked Tennessee Volunteers head to Columbia, South Carolina on Tuesday to take on the struggling game cocks. The Vols sit at 20 wins and 9 losses overall, with a 10-6 mark in southeastern conference play. They've dropped their last two games, including a tough one-point loss to Alabama on Saturday. Tennessee built a 13-point lead late in that game and held it for over 36 minutes, but couldn't close it out. Jacobi Gillespie led the way with 26 points, 7 assists, and a career-high tying 8 steals, making history as the first SEC player too. Hit that steel mark in two conference games this season. Coach Rick Barnes pointed to a key stop and rebound, they couldn't get down the stretch. Star Freshman Nate A. Ment, the team's second leading scorer at 17.4 points per game and top rebounder, left early with a right knee. Injury after just 11 minutes, his status for Tuesday remains uncertain, which could hurt the Vols. Meanwhile, South Carolina is reeling at 12 and 17 overall, just 3 and 13 in the SEC.

1:05They've lost 9 of their last 10, including an 87-68 defeat at Georgia, where they shot under 38% from the Rosdae Fee field. Michi Johnson scored 20 for the game cocks, his 9th 20-point game in conference play, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide. With Tennessee looking a bounce back in South Carolina, desperate for a spark, this matchup could shift both team seasons.