Vols Head to Athens Riding Momentum, Aiming to Tame the Bulldogs
The Tennessee Volunteers are back on the road this week, heading to Athens for a Wednesday night SEC showdown against the Georgia Bulldogs. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
ET, with coverage on SEC Network and streaming available via the ESPN App. John Schriffen and Daymeon Fishback will be on the call, while fans across the Volunteer State can catch Mike Keith and John Wilkerson on the Vol Network radio broadcast.
A Storied Rivalry with a Recent Orange Tint
When it comes to SEC matchups, Tennessee vs. Georgia has some history behind it-and lately, it’s been tilting in the Vols’ favor.
Tennessee holds 100 wins over Georgia, second only to their 132 victories over Vanderbilt. That’s no small feat, and it speaks to the consistency of the Vols’ program over the decades.
Zoom in on recent years, and the dominance becomes even clearer. Tennessee has won seven of the last eight meetings with the Bulldogs, a stark turnaround from a stretch where they dropped nine of 11, including five straight.
What’s notable is that the Vols were ranked in each of those seven wins and unranked in the lone loss during that span. Ranked Tennessee is proving to be a tough out for Georgia.
And when it comes to playing in Athens? Tennessee has flipped the script there too.
After losing six straight on Georgia’s home floor, the Vols have now taken the last two. That’s a trend they’ll look to extend Wednesday night.
Last season’s matchup on January 15, 2025, was a landmark game-the first time both teams were ranked in the AP Top 25 when they faced off. It also marked the first time Tennessee had faced a ranked Georgia squad since 2003. The stakes are getting higher, and this rivalry is evolving.
Familiar Faces, Family Ties
There’s no shortage of storylines off the court either. Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White is the younger brother of Georgia head coach Mike White.
Both are former college players-Danny suited up for Towson and Notre Dame, while Mike played at Ole Miss. Since Danny took over at Tennessee in January 2021-just two days after the Vols lost to Mike’s Florida Gators-Tennessee has gone 6-1 against Mike White-coached teams.
Rick Barnes, now in his 11th season in the SEC, has had Mike White’s number over the years. Barnes is 11-2 all-time against him, including an 8-2 record when White was at Florida and a perfect 3-0 since he took over at Georgia.
There’s also a personal twist on the court. Tennessee assistant Amorrow Morgan coached Georgia’s leading scorer, Jeremiah Wilkinson, last year at Cal.
Wilkinson, now averaging 17.7 points and 1.8 steals per game, was named ACC Sixth Man of the Year under Morgan’s guidance. This will be the third time this season Morgan faces off against a former player.
Georgia’s New Faces, Tennessee’s Familiar Grit
Georgia enters the game at 16-4 overall and 4-3 in SEC play-a solid start for a team that was picked 14th in the SEC preseason poll after a 20-13 (8-10) campaign last year. Wilkinson has emerged as the go-to guy, while the Bulldogs also boast some intriguing connections to Tennessee.
Freshman Kanon Catchings is the nephew of Lady Vols legend and Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings. Meanwhile, Blue Cain, a Georgia guard, spent three years at Knoxville Catholic.
But if Georgia is finding its rhythm, Tennessee is leaning into its identity-especially on the glass.
Dominating the Boards Like Few Others
No team in the country is crashing the offensive glass like Tennessee. According to KenPom, the Vols lead the nation with a 43.9% offensive rebounding rate.
That’s not just elite-it’s relentless. They’ve hit double-digit offensive boards in 18 of 19 games this season, with 13 or more in 14 of those contests.
They’ve posted 20+ offensive rebounds four times, topping out at 24.
Total rebounding? Just as impressive.
Tennessee is fourth in Division I in rebounding margin (+12.0) and eighth in total rebounds per game (42.53). They’ve grabbed at least 35 boards in 16 of 19 games, with 50+ five times-including a monster 60-rebound performance in a double-overtime win against Texas A&M.
That A&M game was a showcase of Tennessee’s depth and physicality. Jaylen Carey (10 points, 9 rebounds), Bishop Boswell (13 points, 11 rebounds), and Felix Okpara (10 points, 12 rebounds) nearly gave the Vols three double-doubles in a single game. Carey was one board shy of joining the club.
Carey has been a force all season, especially on the offensive glass. He currently ranks third nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (19.5%), per KenPom.
And he’s not alone. J.P.
Estrella, Felix Okpara, Nate Ament, and DeWayne Brown II have all logged games with 10+ rebounds this season. Brown, in just his second start, pulled down 14 boards against Gardner-Webb-tying the most by a Tennessee freshman in the last 20 years.
Ament Rising, Vols Rolling
Freshman forward Nate Ament is coming off a breakout game. In Tennessee’s 79-73 road win over #17 Alabama, Ament poured in a career-high 29 points, becoming the first freshman to post 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists on the road against a ranked opponent since Chase Budinger did it in 2007. Ja’Kobi Gillespie chipped in 24 points, helping the Vols erase a 10-point first-half deficit and secure their fifth straight win over the Crimson Tide.
That win wasn’t just about offense-it was about defense, too. Tennessee has now held Alabama to 76 points or fewer in all nine meetings since Nate Oats took over in Tuscaloosa, a remarkable feat considering the Tide have averaged 85.4 points per game against everyone else during that span. The Vols’ ability to dictate pace and limit high-powered offenses continues to be a calling card.
Rick Barnes Chasing History
Wednesday’s game also marks a significant milestone for Rick Barnes. It will be his 1,279th as a head coach, tying him for eighth-most all-time among Division I coaches with at least 10 years of experience. He’s also sitting on 849 career wins-one shy of becoming just the 10th coach in Division I history to hit the 850 mark.
Tennessee’s recent run under Barnes has been nothing short of elite. The Vols are one of just three programs-along with Alabama and Houston-to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the last three seasons. They’ve also made back-to-back Elite Eights, joining Alabama and Duke in that exclusive club.
From 2017 to now, Tennessee has racked up 214 wins, tied for ninth-most in Division I over that span. Only a handful of programs-Gonzaga, Houston, Duke, Kansas, Purdue, Saint Mary’s, Liberty, and Auburn-have done more.
What’s Next
Tennessee heads into Athens with momentum, muscle, and a mindset built on rebounding and defense. Georgia, meanwhile, is looking to prove its early-season success is no fluke. With family ties on the sidelines and former teammates facing off on the court, this one has all the ingredients for a classic SEC clash.
Wednesday night in Athens should be a battle-and if the Vols keep owning the glass like they have all season, they’ll be tough to beat.