USA Today via Reuters
Jan 9, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward David McCormack (33) is congratulated by guard Ochai Agbaji (30) after a play against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 9, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward David McCormack (33) is congratulated by guard Ochai Agbaji (30) after a play against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball action will see a massive clash when two ranked opponents face off against each other in a cross-conference battle. The Kansas Jayhawks prepare to face the Tennessee Volunteers. Currently, both team’s fortunes have been looking down.
The Tennessee Volunteers are 11-3 on the season and rank 18 on the AP Poll. While they were a solid top-10 team, they fell to some bad losses. One was a massive 23-point loss to the Florida Gators, which was followed up with a loss to the Missouri Tigers.
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Tennessee signee Kennedy Chandler is going to be the lead floor general for the Tennessee Volunteers. Prized point guard recruit finished with 20 points on the offensive end, six steals defensively.
Does it on both ends and does it effortlessly. @sunrisehoops is real.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) January 28, 2021
The Kansas Jayhawks were flying high as one of the top-five teams in the country. However, they fell on a shocking three-game losing streak, which has made their title aspirations look very bleak. They lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Baylor Bears, and Oklahoma Sooners in that run.
Both teams could really do with a win to re-establish themselves amongst the elite this season. So who takes this win?
NCAA Basketball: Do the Volunteers prove themselves against elite competition?
The Volunteers need to find the magic that helped them open this season with seven straight wins. While the two consecutive losses may be an aberration, Tennessee has to go out of their way to make sure that they can put the Jayhawks out. Otherwise, they may fall further down the rankings.
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 26, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Yves Pons (35) and guard Keon Johnson (45) reacts to a play against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Even though the Jayhawks have slipped up a little, they are still elite. An eight-point win against the unfancied TCU Horned Frogs has proven that Kansas still needs some time to rebound from their horrendous run of games prior to that win. However, facing the Volunteers may be the jolt of energy that the team needs.
The Jayhawks will be lining up with Marcus Garrett, Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, Jalen Wilson, and David McCormack. The Volunteers will be lining up with Josiah-Jordan James, Keon Johnson, Santiago Vescovi, John Fulkerson, and Yves Pons.
For our prediction, we will go with the Volunteers. While the Jayhawks may still be the better team on paper, we have to take a flyer on the Volunteers. Their form is marginally better than Kansas, and they should be able to add to their current struggles.
