Tennessee (15-14, 7-9 in SEC) @ LSU (9-19, 1-15)
7:00 EST – SEC Network+
This may be the least intriguing of the games on the Wednesday docket, but it does include one of the teams that is trying to scratch and claw their way up in the SEC Standings.
After starting 5-4 in SEC play, Tennessee has lost five of their last seven games. The Volunteers still have NCAA tournament aspirations, ranking no. 65 in the RPI. But the biggest thing they have going for them is their no. 10 SOS. In Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology, they are currently listed as one of the “Next four out.”
The Volunteers have played six games this year against teams in the top 11 of the RPI, including Kentucky twice. The only problem is that the Vols only have one win to show for it, beating Kentucky on back on Jan. 24.
While it’s easy to look at LSU as an easy victory. After all, it has been a victory for their opponent in 15 of their 16 conference games so far this season and many of them haven’t even been close. Only five of their 15 conference losses have been by single-digits.
But the Tigers do have history on their side. You have to go all the way back to the 1968-69 season (and I did) to find the last time an SEC team only won one conference game in a season. While that might not be very concrete, you should cling to whatever positives you can when your team is 1-15. This game will also be played in Baton Rouge.