Vols Head to Starkville Riding Momentum and History Against Mississippi State
The Tennessee Volunteers (16-7, 6-4 SEC) are heading to Starkville with confidence and a bit of history on their side as they prepare for a Wednesday night showdown with Mississippi State (11-12, 3-7 SEC) at Humphrey Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m.
ET, with coverage on ESPN2 and the ESPN App. Fans can also catch the call on the Vol Network with Mike Keith and Chris Lofton on the mic.
This matchup has traditionally tilted in Tennessee’s favor, and the numbers back it up. The Vols have notched 91 wins over the Bulldogs-more than any SEC opponent outside of Vanderbilt and Georgia.
Since 2013, Tennessee has gone 16-5 against Mississippi State, including a dominant 10-3 stretch over the last 13 meetings. That run includes multiple winning streaks, and most of those victories haven’t been close-12 of the last 21 matchups were decided by double digits, with Tennessee taking 10 of those.
Last season’s meeting was a statement win for the Vols. In a top-15 showdown-the first ranked clash in the history of this series-Tennessee led from start to finish in a 68-56 home victory, powered by Chaz Lanier’s 23-point performance.
Ament’s Emergence and Freshman Firepower
If Tennessee’s recent form is any indication, they’re bringing more than just history into this one. Freshman Nate Ament has been on an absolute tear, scoring at least 17 points in each of the last eight games.
He’s averaging 23.0 points per game during that stretch, shooting nearly 47% from the field, over 44% from beyond the arc, and over 80% at the free throw line. He’s also getting to the stripe with regularity-averaging nearly nine free throw attempts per game and drawing contact like a seasoned scorer.
His co-career-high 29-point outburst at Kentucky wasn’t just impressive-it was historic. According to Jared Berson, it marked the highest-scoring road performance by a freshman against the Wildcats in nearly 36 years, dating back to Auburn’s Ronnie Battle in 1990.
And Ament’s not the only young Vol making waves. DeWayne Brown II hauled in 12 rebounds in that same game at Rupp Arena, becoming just the fifth Tennessee freshman in the last two decades to grab a dozen boards in an SEC contest. That’s elite company-joining names like Grant Williams, Tobias Harris, and Wayne Chism.
Then there’s Bishop Boswell, who’s been a force on the glass despite standing just 6-foot-4. He’s pulled down at least eight rebounds in four straight games and currently ranks ninth in the SEC in rebounding during league play with 6.7 boards per game.
Owning the Glass-and the Moment
Tennessee’s rebounding efforts go beyond individual performances. The Vols are crashing the offensive glass at a historic rate.
Their 45.2% offensive rebounding percentage is currently tracking to be the third-best in the KenPom era, trailing only the 2000-01 Michigan State and Georgetown squads. That’s elite company, and it speaks to Tennessee’s physicality and effort on the interior.
The Vols have also made a habit of controlling games. Of their 23 contests this season, 17 have featured a lead of at least 14 points by one team, and in 12 of those, the margin ballooned to 23 or more. Only two games have stayed within single digits throughout-an overtime win at Georgia and a loss at Syracuse.
Rick Barnes’ Winning Blueprint
Under Rick Barnes, Tennessee has become one of the most consistent programs in the country. His 852 career wins tie him for the most among active Division I coaches and place him ninth all-time among coaches with at least 10 years of D-I experience.
Since 2017, the Vols have racked up 217 wins-tied with Arizona for eighth-most in Division I over that span. Only a handful of powerhouse programs like Houston, Gonzaga, and Kansas have done more. Tennessee has also made three straight Sweet 16 appearances, joining Alabama and Houston as the only schools to do so, and they’ve reached back-to-back Elite Eights alongside just Alabama and Duke.
In the SEC, Tennessee has been the standard for consistency. Over the last nine seasons, they lead the conference in total wins (217) and postseason victories (23), and they rank second in overall win percentage (.728). In league play, they’ve gone 104-49 (.680), trailing only Kentucky by a single win.
Zooming in on the last five seasons, Tennessee’s 125-43 record (.744) is the best in the SEC, just edging Auburn. In that same span, they’ve matched Alabama and Kentucky with 57 SEC wins, while Auburn leads with 58.
A National Contender-and It Shows
Tennessee’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed in the rankings. The Vols have played 261 games as a ranked team during Barnes’ tenure, winning 194 of them (.743). That’s a massive chunk-over 70% of their games since 2015-16 have come with a number next to their name, and since 2017-18, that figure jumps to nearly 88%.
When they’re ranked in the top 10, Tennessee’s been even more dangerous-posting a 103-33 record (.757). As a top-five team, they’re 49-14 (.778), and when they’ve cracked the top three, they’ve gone 25-3.
That includes a dominant 14-2 mark while ranked No. 1.
They’ve also held their own in high-stakes matchups. Under Barnes, Tennessee is 40-30 in games where both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. That includes a 32-23 record when both are in the top 20, 20-16 when both are top-15, and 11-10 in top-10 clashes.
Looking Ahead
Mississippi State comes into this one trying to find its footing after a 21-13 campaign last year that ended in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs were picked 10th in the SEC preseason poll, and they’re led by junior guard Josh Hubbard, a First Team All-SEC selection who’s averaging 20.6 points and 3.6 assists per game.
But if recent history, current form, and Tennessee’s depth of talent are any indication, the Vols aren’t just aiming for another SEC win-they’re building toward something bigger. And Wednesday night in Starkville is the next step in that journey.