Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Faces Missouri Tigers in SEC Showdown

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team (20-7, 10-4 SEC) continues its 2025-26 season on Tuesday, traveling to Columbia, Mo., to face the Missouri Tigers (18-9, 8-6) at Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET.

Fans can watch Tuesday’s game on SEC Network and stream on the ESPN app. Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Jon Sundvold (color) will have the call. Fans state-wide can tune in to their local Vol Network radio affiliate to hear Voice of the Vols Mike Keith and analyst Chris Lofton depict the action.

The Matchup

Since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012-13, Tennessee holds an 11-6 record in the series, with an 11-5 tally in league play. The Volunteers have won 12 of their last 18 games against the Tigers, including 7 of the past 10 meetings.

In last year’s 85-81 home win on February 5, 2025, Tennessee shot 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from 3-point range, tying the program’s best clip (minimum 12 3-point attempts). Zakai Zeigler went 4-of-4 from deep in that contest.

Tennessee has won five consecutive road games at Missouri, dating back to January 8, 2019, and continuing through February 20, 2024. The past four series matchups have been decided by a total of 18 points, with three games having margins within five points.

This is the 11th time Tennessee is ranked in its last 12 matchups with Missouri (since January 17, 2018), after being unranked in the first 12 games of the series. The Volunteers are 6-4 in those prior 10 ranked matchups.

Missouri placed seventh in the SEC preseason poll after finishing 22-12 (10-8) in the 2024-25 season.

News & Notes

Tennessee assistant coach Gregg Polinsky is a St. Louis native, whereas forwards Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips both graduated from Link Academy in Branson, Mo.

Rick Barnes’ 856 wins lead all active Division I coaches and rank ninth all-time (minimum 10 years in Division I). He is one SEC victory away from passing Rick Stansbury (122) for sole possession of No. 17 on the league’s all-time leaderboard.

Tennessee has achieved 20 wins for the 32nd time in program history, marking the seventh time in the last nine years and the fifth consecutive season. The five straight 20-win seasons tie a UT record, previously set twice.

The Volunteers have double-digit SEC victories for the sixth straight season, the second-longest mark in school history.

Over the past four games, Nate Ament is 30-of-31 (96.8%) on free throws, making his last 18 attempts.

Tennessee is seeking its fifth five-game single-season winning streak in league play under Rick Barnes, having previously achieved this in 2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22, and 2023-24.

The Volunteers are aiming to reach 11-plus SEC wins for the fifth consecutive season, a feat they have only accomplished once before, with a seven-year tally from 1970-71 to 1976-77.

UT is too seeking 21-plus wins for the fifth straight year, which they have also done once before, from 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Tennessee’s 45.0 offensive rebounding percentage is on pace to be, per KenPom, the third-best mark this century, trailing only 2000-01 Michigan State (47.0) and 2000-01 Georgetown (45.3).

Tennessee, Alabama, and Houston are the only schools to make the last three Sweet 16s. Tennessee, Alabama, and Duke are the only three in the last two Elite Eights.

UT finished a program-best fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, and KenPom in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

The Volunteers’ 221 wins in the last nine years (2017-26) rank eighth in Division I. Only Houston (266), Gonzaga (266), Duke (245), Kansas (232), Purdue (228), Saint Mary’s (225), and Liberty (222) possess more.

Winning Ways

Over the last nine seasons (2017-26), Tennessee (221-81; .732) leads all SEC programs in total victories, overall winning percentage, and postseason victories (23). In that span, UT has three SEC titles (2018 and 2024 regular seasons, 2022 tournament).

In the same period, the Volunteers are one of two SEC teams with even 205-plus wins and/or a winning percentage above .690, alongside Auburn (217-83; .723).

Over SEC play across the same span, Tennessee (108-49; .688) is first in both league victories and league winning percentage. The only other schools at even 100-plus wins and/or a .610 clip are Kentucky (105-52; .669), Auburn (102-56; .646), and Alabama (101-57; .639).

In just the last five seasons (2021-26), the Vols own a 129-43 (.750) overall record, the most total wins and the best winning percentage in the SEC, far ahead of Auburn (.732; 123-45).

In that time, Tennessee (61-25; .709) ties Alabama (61-25; .709) for first in league victories and league winning percentage.

Serious Streaks

The Volunteers possess 20 victories for the fifth year in a row, tying the longest streak in program history, previously recorded from 1980-81 to 1984-85 and 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Tennessee has double-figure SEC victories for the sixth consecutive season, the second-longest such streak in program history. The Volunteers accumulated 10-plus SEC wins for 13 years in a row from 1964-65 to 1976-77.

Tremendously Talented

Since the SEC Freshman of the Week honor resumed in 2005-06, Nate Ament is one of just 11 players to earn the award five times and one of only six with six weekly honors in a single season.

Rarely Down, Never Out

Over the last six seasons (2020-26), Tennessee has played just 11 games while unranked and is 9-2. That includes a perfect 8-0 mark in the regular season. In that same span, the Volunteers have played only 25 games as a lower-ranked team, posting a 15-10 record, including 2-1 when unranked, and a 9-5 mark versus SEC teams, with a 7-3 ledger in SEC play.