@ UT, 7 PM ET/6CT on the U. Just gotta get it done tonight. Rod Odom and James Siakam were the bright spots on Saturday. Rod with 17 and James very active in the middle in the second half. We actually outscored Mizzou, 39-32, in the second half, with a smaller but more athletic lineup. Would love to see Kevin employ that same group as starters tonight. That would be Kede, Dai-Jon, Rod, Sheldon and James. That’s a very fast, athletic lineup who can play defense, hang on the boards and knock down shots. James showed he can play some offense on Saturday. Think Kevin needs to stick him in there as a starter and leave him in the game for a while to let him get in the flow of it. Kyle and Kevin Bright need to get some good minutes also and we’ll need Shelby and Josh to produce off the bench if Kevin goes with the same lineup that started the second half on Saturday. UT is 10-8 and like us 2-4 in conference. They are 8-2 at home, 0-5 on the road and 2-1 at neutral sites. This is a huge game. The Vols took Ole Miss to the wire at Oxford last Thursday night losing 62-56, then defeated ‘Bama at home on Saturday, 54-53, in a highly controversial ending. Alabama had the ball with 12 seconds left and took it to the left side of the basket, where Tide shooting guard Trevor Lacey looked like he was fouled on a shot by Jarnell Stokes, but there was no whistle. The game ended and UT survived. Jordan McRae leads the Vols in scoring at 14.7 per game. He shoots 45 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three. Stokes, their powerful 6’8″, 240 power forward, is averaging 11.1 points per game and 8.1 rebounds. We’re going to have to neutralize him somewhat to have a chance. Trae Golden, their point guard, averages 10.4 ppg and 4.1 assists. The Vols are shooting 43 % from the field, 29 % from three and 66% from the line. They average 37 rebounds per game and have 190 assists to 230 turnovers. They’re averaging 13 to’s a game. They don’t shoot it that well, but are athletic and physical, so we have to match that.

Us 61, UT 58

As you probably know now, Sneds finished second to Eldrick in the Farmers Insurance Open. Tiger finished at -14 while Sneds finished at -10. Brandt will play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Brandt shot a 69 in the final  round which he finished Monday, but the 75 he had on Friday in very tough conditions on Torrey Pines’ South Course, cost him the tourney. Luke went 66,75, 78 and 71 to finish tied for 68th, but earned $12, 200. Luke is playing this week as well at the Waste Management. Golf Channel and NBC will provide coverage. Will keep you informed on it.  Brandt earned $536,800 and is now ranked fifth in the Fed Ex Cup race. Brian Gay leads the Cup points having won the Humana Challenge the week before. Tiger is fourth. Luke is 145, but there are a lot of tourneys to go–we’re just getting started–and Luke is making cuts, so feel good about him. Feel very good about Brandt as always. I see a major possibility this year. He’s playing that well and is so confident. Not intimidated by anyone, Eldrick included. Knows he can beat anybody out there.

Finally, Matt Dayes, the high three-star rb out of Fort Lauderdale, will be announcing his decision tomorrow. Sounds like it’s us, South Florida, Arkansas NC State and now EweT (Knoxville) possibly. Matt ran it 200 times for 1,878 yards this season with 31 TDs. In the Florida 8A state championship game against Apopka, Matt rushed for 170 yards and four TDs, in what was called by a Miami Herald sports writer as “one of the greatest state championship games the Sunshine State has ever seen.” Matt’s team, Cypress Bay, lost 53-50 to Apopka. Watched film on Matt. Like him as much as that guy who de-committed last night. Matt is 5’9″, 195, can motor and cuts extremely well. Explosive, strong  runner who can run it up the middle and break it outside. Very nice speed and high energy player. Would be a tremendous get. Will let you know tomorrow as soon as Matt announces. It’ll be a close call. I know James has done everything he possibly can as he always does. And he’ll do something tonight for sure. Matt would be an exceptional addition, and to me, just as important as that other guy who sold us out.