Tennessee point guard Jordan Bone, far right, takes a jump shot during the Vols' home win against Tennessee Tech last Saturday. The Vols open SEC play today in Knoxville against Georgia.No. 3 Tennessee vs. Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV/radio: SEC Network/102.3 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
TENNESSEE (10-1, 0-0 Southeastern Conference)
Projected starters: F Kyle Alexander (6-11, 10.3); G Jordan Bone (6-3, 14.3); G Yves Pons (6-6, 4.4); G Admiral Schofield (6-6, 18.2); F Grant Williams (6-7, 20.1).
Key reserves: G Jordan Bowden (6-5, 7.9); F John Fulkerson (6-9, 4.7).
GEORGIA (8-4)
Projected starters: F Nicolas Claxton (6-11, 13.3); F Rayshaun Hammonds (6-8, 15.0); G Teshaun Hightower (6-5, 8.2); G William Jackson II (6-4, 3.8); F Derek Ogbeide (6-9, 9.3).
Key reserves: G Tyree Crump (6-1, 11.2); G Tye Fagan (6-3, 4.5).
BULLDOGS REPORT
The Bulldogs have had a solid start in their first season under coach Tom Crean. They've been led by their interior size, with Claxton, Hammonds or Ogbeide leading the team in scoring in 11 of their 12 games so far. Claxton has scored in double figures in five of the team's past six games. Georgia has limited opponents to 29 percent shooting from 3-point range this season.
KEY MATCHUP
With similar size in the frontcourt, the Bulldogs appear on paper to be a good matchup for the Volunteers. Tennessee's biggest advantage may actually be at guard, where Bone has been hot as of late while Jackson has struggled and Crump is a 3-point shooter who did most of his damage against lesser competition, scoring a season-high 25 against Texas Southern. If the Vols can control the tempo and force the Georgia guards into mistakes, it could lead to some easy baskets in transition and take the Bulldogs' big guys out of the game early.