Live Updates: No. 7 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Maryland
BROOKLYN — It’s game day for No. 7 Tennessee, facing No. 13 Maryland on Sunday in a Hall of Fame Invitational game at Barclays Center in New York. The game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time start on Fox Sports 1.
For live in-game updates from today’s game, follow along on The General’s Quarters
The Vols (8-1) have won seven straight games dating back to the 78-66 loss to Colorado on November 13 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Tennessee beat McNeese State, Alcorn State and Eastern Kentucky during a three-game homestand at Thompson-Boling Arena, after beating Butler, USC and Kansas in consecutive day to win the Battle 4 Atlantis championship in The Bahamas.
Maryland (8-1), under first-year Terrapin coach Kevin Willard, started 8-0, including a win over No. 17 Illinois, before losing its first game of the season at Wisconsin on Tuesday, 64-59.
“I think Coach Willard has done a great job,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said on Friday. “If you watch them play they’re not going to beat themselves. If they make a basket they’re going to jump in their 2-2-1 (zone defense) or back to a 2-3, mixes man in. He’s got them believing.
“They can shoot the ball. As I watch them now I would say they’re one of the biggest surprises in college basketball. They got off to a terrific start … they’re right there. They do a lot of things that we’re going to have to be ready to defend.”
How to watch, stream, listen
Tipoff Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Barclays Center (19,000)
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Jason Benetti — play-by-play; Jim Jackson, analyst)
Radio: WNML-FM 99.1 in Knoxville. The Vol Network radio broadcast (Bob Keeling — play-by-play; Bert Bertelkamp — analyst) can be heard on local affiliates across the state of Tennessee or can be streamed on the iHeart Radio app. The game can be heard on satellite radio on SiriusXM Channel 132 or on the SiriusXM App on Channel 961.
Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (shoulder) ‘day-to-day’
Tennessee senior shooting guard Santiago Vescovi practiced on Friday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena, before the Vols travelled to New York, but his status remains day-to-day according to head coach Rick Barnes.
Barnes said on Wednesday, after Tennessee’s win over Eastern Kentucky, that Vescovi was progressing and could be available for the Maryland game.
“I think he is,” Barnes said. “He was down on the other end actually shooting the ball some (on Wednesday). (Trainer) Chad (Newman) does a great job. (Vescovi) told me today, he was the first person I saw and he told me he felt better today but he still has a couple more days (before the game).
Vols still ‘have a plan’ for Josiah-Jordan James (knee soreness)
Senior wing Josiah-Jordan James, who missed four straight games with knee soreness, returned on Sunday against Alcorn State, playing 14 minutes off the bench, then played 17 minutes against Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday.
“We have a plan we’re trying to work him back through,” Barnes said on Wednesday. “I’m not sure where it will be after (this), where we’ll progress him to. I’m sure after each game he’s doing everything he needs to do. He’s changed his diet, he’s done everything he can to do all he can to try to get himself right.”
