Tennessee’s defense has been the calling card all season, and it’ll face perhaps its toughest test yet on Wednesday night in Athens. The Vols, who lead the SEC in scoring defense, head to Georgia to take on a Bulldogs squad that’s been lighting up the scoreboard-until recently.
This matchup was originally set for Tuesday but got bumped back a day due to icy conditions that swept across the Southeast. That extra day might’ve been a blessing for both teams, but especially for Tennessee, which is coming off a statement win and looking to build momentum.
Let’s start with the Vols. At 13-6 overall and 3-3 in SEC play, Tennessee’s identity is clear: defense-first, physical basketball.
They’re holding opponents to just 69.0 points per game, and that effort was on full display in their 79-73 road win over then-No. 17 Alabama.
That wasn’t just another solid win-it marked Tennessee’s 29th victory over a ranked opponent in the last five seasons, the most in the nation over that span. That’s not just consistency; that’s a culture.
What made that Alabama win even more impressive was the performance of freshman guard Nate Avent. He dropped a career-high 29 points, going 10-of-20 from the field and showing a level of poise and shot selection beyond his years.
Avent became the first Tennessee freshman to score 29 in a game since 2021 and the first to hit double-digit field goals since that same season. He’s averaging 16.2 points per game, second on the team behind Ja’kobi Gillespie, who’s putting up 18.8 and ranks fifth in the SEC.
Head coach Rick Barnes had high praise for Avent, noting his improved decision-making and ability to find space without forcing the issue. “He’s starting to understand how to attack space and not get himself in trouble by going too deep,” Barnes said. “He was terrific.”
And it wasn’t just Avent. Tennessee looked sharper overall, thanks in part to a full week off between games.
After a tough loss to Kentucky on Jan. 17, the Vols regrouped, refocused, and came out with an edge. “They understood we had to get some things right,” Barnes said.
“We knew we were playing one of the best offensive teams in the country and we wanted to be on edge the entire time.”
Now they’ll face another high-powered offense in Georgia, although the Bulldogs are coming off their worst offensive performance of the season. Georgia (16-4, 4-3 SEC) was held to just 67 points in an 81-67 loss at Texas-well below their season average of 93.5 points per game.
Georgia head coach Mike White didn’t mince words after the loss, pointing to a breakdown in execution and discipline. “We got emotional because of the lack of stops,” White said.
“All of a sudden you’re down 8-10, it gets loud in the arena, and we just got out of character. We took a few hero shots and you can’t win on the road in the SEC doing that.”
The Bulldogs struggled especially on the defensive end in the second half, giving up 57 points to the Longhorns. White noted issues with defensive rebounding and a lack of presence in the paint-areas that Tennessee will look to exploit.
Georgia’s offensive attack is led by Jeremiah Wilkinson (17.7 ppg), Blue Cain (13.6), and Marcus “Smurf” Millender (11.7), who hit a career milestone by scoring his 1,000th point in the Texas game. They’ve got firepower, no doubt, but the question is whether they can get back to being the connected, disciplined team that ripped off 16 wins through the first 20 games.
One potential X-factor for Tennessee is the status of freshman point guard Troy Henderson, who missed the Alabama game with a left shoulder injury. His return could give the Vols an added boost in the backcourt, especially against Georgia’s aggressive perimeter play.
And while Tennessee is unranked for the second straight week-snapping a remarkable 90-week run in the AP Top 25-they’re still very much a team to watch. The defense is elite, the offense is finding its rhythm, and the young players are growing into their roles.
Wednesday night in Athens will be a clash of styles: Tennessee’s lockdown defense versus Georgia’s up-tempo offense. If the Vols can control the pace and keep Georgia from getting into a rhythm, they’ll have a real shot at another road win-and another reminder that rankings don’t always tell the full story.