- Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Tennessee Volunteers
- Event Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
- Broadcast: ESPN
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This Saturday, the Bridgestone Arena will witness an exciting clash as the Tennessee Volunteers (7-2) face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2).
The Illinois Fighting Illini recently encountered a tough loss against Connecticut, falling 74-61. In this contest, they accumulated 17 fouls, while Connecticut was tagged with 19. Illinois managed to convert just 10 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc, whereas Connecticut showcased a free throw percentage of 70.6%, sinking 12 of their 17 attempts. Connecticut dominated the boards with 40 rebounds (14 offensive, 26 defensive) but did not tally any blocks. The Huskies dished out 19 assists and recorded 7 steals. On the defensive end, Illinois allowed their opponents to achieve a shooting percentage of 41.3% on 26 of 63 attempts. They managed 10 assists, forced 9 turnovers, and added 3 steals while grabbing 35 total rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end. At the charity stripe, they were highly efficient, converting 17 out of 18 attempts for an impressive 94.4%. Overall, Illinois ended the game shooting 31.7% from the field (19 of 60) and made 6 of their 29 three-point attempts.
Kylan Boswell stood out in this matchup, hitting 50.0% of his shots, collecting 3 assists, and contributing 9 rebounds over 39 minutes. He finished with 25 points on 8 of 16 shooting.
As they head into this matchup, Illinois boasts a record of 6-2 this season. The Fighting Illini are scoring an average of 90.4 points per game, ranking 28th nationally, while achieving a shooting accuracy of 48.1%. They currently convert 32.5% of their three-point attempts (76 of 234) and 78.6% from the free-throw line. The team averages 44.5 rebounds per game and has 114 assists on the season, placing them 213th in assist rate. They are turning the ball over an average of 10.3 times per game and committing 13.5 fouls each outing.
On the defensive end, the Fighting Illini force their opponents into 8.9 turnovers per game and draw an average of 20.6 fouls. They rank 135th nationally in assists allowed, having surrendered 99 this season. Illinois’s defense allows an opponent shooting percentage of 40.3% (211 of 524) and gives up 30.5 rebounds per game. Additionally, they restrict opponents to 32.1% from three-point range and rank 126th in points allowed per game (70.3).
In their last game, the Tennessee Volunteers fell short against Syracuse, losing 62-60. They secured a total of 36 rebounds (24 defensive and 12 offensive) but were plagued by 17 turnovers, although they did manage to achieve 9 steals. Syracuse was called for 14 fouls, giving Tennessee 15 free throw attempts, of which they converted 8 for a 53.3% success rate. From long range, Tennessee managed 4 of 13 attempts (30.8%). Overall, they shot 24 out of 58 from the field for a shooting rate of 41.4%. Syracuse was able to convert 22 of their 51 field goal attempts against Tennessee’s defense, achieving a 43.1% shooting clip. The Volunteers allowed 33 total rebounds (8 offensive) for the game.
Jaylen Carey was a bright spot for Tennessee, finishing the game with 22 points on 10 of 16 shooting (62.5%) and pulling down 9 rebounds in just 23 minutes of play, though he did not record any assists.
Tennessee holds a 7-2 record so far this season. The Volunteers average 17.7 personal fouls per game, hitting 75.3% from the charity stripe. They average 19.2 assists per game (21st in Division I) while averaging 13.2 turnovers. This season, Tennessee has scored 747 points, averaging 83.0 per game, and they grab an average of 43.0 rebounds per game. Offensively, they shoot 48.0%, ranking 85th nationally.
On the defensive end, Tennessee allows opponents to shoot 28.5% from three-point range (65 of 228) and concede 68.9% of free throws. They allow an average of 10.1 assists and 30.4 rebounds per game, ranking them 26th and 37th in the nation, respectively. Defensively, they rank 37th in points allowed per game at 65.0. They force 13.1 turnovers per game and restrict teams to a shooting percentage of 37.4% from the field (21st nationally).
Which team will prevail in tonight’s NCAA action against the spread?
Recommendation: Back Illinois
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