No. 17 Tennessee welcomes No. 20 Illinois to Thompson-Boling Enviornment on Saturday in a marquee Prime 25-showdown on CBS. Illinois comes into this matchup driving a five-game profitable streak, whereas Tennessee has misplaced three of its final 4 that included a brutal stretch towards Purdue, Kansas and North Carolina.
Illinois is coming off its greatest win of the season within the Jimmy V Traditional towards No. 11 FAU. The 98-89 win over the Owls earlier this week was largely attributable to massive performances from Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr., who every scored a career-high 33 factors within the upset.
As for Tennessee, it bounced again from its three-game skid with a 87-66 win over George Mason. The most important storyline of the season for the Vols’ has been the breakout efficiency from guard Dalton Knecht. The Northern Colorado switch is averaging a team-leading 19 factors per sport.
Knecht scored 22 of his career-high 37 factors within the second half throughout the loss to North Carolina final week. Knecht went down late with an obvious ankle damage, however returned to attain 10 factors in solely 25 minutes towards George Mason days later.
The way to watch Tennessee vs. Illinois dwell
Date: Saturday, Dec. 9 | Time: Midday ET
Location: Thompson-Boling Enviornment — Knoxville, Tennessee
TV: CBS | Reside stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App (Free)
Tennessee vs. Illinois prediction, picks
You realize that previous saying that goes “when unsure, decide the house staff?” That applies right here. Tennessee introduced it is going to be enjoying in front of a sold out crowd of over 21,000 individuals this weekend, which ought to present the Vols’ with a considerable home-court benefit towards one of many hottest groups within the nation. Tennessee has but to beat a Prime 25 opponent this season in three tries, however Saturday will show the fourth time is the appeal. Whereas Knecht stays the X-Issue as the most effective general scorer for Tennessee, Santiago Vescovi appears due for a breakout efficiency. Containing Domask and Shannon must also assist Tennessee’s trigger. Prediction: Tennessee -5
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