Knoxville, TN – The Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team, ranked No. 1 in the nation, is gearing up to kick off their SEC schedule and the new year with a showdown against No. 23 Arkansas this Saturday. The game is set for 12:00 PM CT (1:00 PM ET) at Food City Center, promising an exciting start to 2025.

Fans can watch the action live on ESPN with commentary from Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes or tune into their local Vol Network station to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp call the game.

Tennessee (13-0) enters the matchup riding high after defeating Norfolk State 67-52 earlier this week, completing an undefeated non-conference run for the fifth time since joining the SEC. Chaz Lanier led the charge with a standout 24-point performance. Meanwhile, Arkansas (11-2) looks to rebound after finishing last season with a 16-17 record and being picked fourth in this year’s SEC preseason poll. Junior forward Adou Thiero leads the Razorbacks with averages of 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.

Tennessee holds momentum in recent history against Arkansas, winning seven of their last nine meetings since 2018. They aim to extend their current three-game win streak against the Razorbacks to four, a feat they’ve accomplished only once before, from 2002 to 2004.

Under head coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee has established itself as a powerhouse program. The Vols are undefeated this season, one of only three Division I teams without a loss, alongside Florida and Oklahoma. Their defensive prowess has been key, leading the nation in three-point defense (24.6%) and ranking second in both scoring defense (56.2 points per game) and field-goal percentage defense (34.7%). The team also boasts a strong scoring margin of +23.8 points per game.

Chaz Lanier has emerged as a major offensive weapon for Tennessee, particularly from beyond the arc. After starting the season averaging 2.5 made three-pointers per game in his first four appearances, he’s now hitting an impressive 4.56 threes per game over his last nine matchups.

Historically, Tennessee shines when playing as the No. 1 team in the AP Poll, holding an all-time record of 13-2 in such games. Under Rick Barnes’ leadership, they’ve gone 12-1 as the nation’s top-ranked team. The Volunteers are also a consistent presence at the top of the rankings, reaching an AP top-five spot in each of the past four seasons—a distinction shared only with Kansas.

Defensive dominance has been a hallmark of Tennessee’s program over recent years. They’ve finished in the top 10 of KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency rankings in five of the last seven seasons and currently sit second nationally in this metric for 2025. The Vols have also won 41 consecutive games when holding opponents under 60 points and 49 straight when allowing 50 points or fewer.

The Volunteers have thrived in high-stakes games, leading the SEC in wins against AP-ranked opponents over the last four years. Tennessee boasts an SEC-best record of 21-14 against AP Top-25 teams during that span and has been particularly effective against Top-10 competition, going 8-5 over the same period.

On their home court at Food City Center, Tennessee is nearly unbeatable. They’ve gone 130-24 under Rick Barnes, including two undefeated home seasons in 2018-19 and 2021-22.

As Tennessee prepares to face Arkansas, they bring not only an undefeated record but also a legacy of success that continues to grow each season. With strong defense, top-tier coaching, and standout performances from players like Chaz Lanier, they’ll look to keep their momentum alive as they chase another victory to start their SEC campaign on a high note.