FGCU/#22 TENNESSEE PREVIEW

Knoxville, TN- FGCU (2-1) heads on the road to face #22 Tennessee (1-1), Wednesday night at 7 PM from Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be televised nationally on SEC Network+/ESPN+.

Stats (FGCU):

FGCU averages 84.0 ppg, shoots 44.4% (88/198) from the field, and 38.4% (38/99) from beyond the arc. The Eagles averages 43.0 team rebounds per game. FGCU dishes out 17.3 assists, 7.7 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game. The Eagles average 11.3 team turnovers per game.

Stats (#22 UT):

#22 Tennessee averages 70.5 ppg, shoots 32.8% (42/128) from the field, and 29.6% (24/81) from beyond the arc. The Volunteers average 37.5 team rebounds per game. #22 Tennessee dishes out 17.0 assists, 14.0 steals, and 4.5 blocks per game. The Volunteers average 15.0 team turnovers per game.

3 Players To Watch For (FGCU):

6’3 JR G Chase Johnston 18.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg

6’7 JR F Zach Anderson 14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg

6’1 SR G Isaiah Thompson 14.0 ppg

3 Players To Watch For (#22 UT):

6’2 GR G Tyrese Key 16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg

-Earned Masters degree from Indiana State

-First team All-MVC as a Junior and Senior at Indiana State

-Averaged 17.2 ppg as a Senior (2020-21)

-Sat out 2021-22 season, following shoulder surgery

5’9 SO G Zakai Zeigler 12.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg

-Preseason All-SEC (1st Team honors from Coaches, and 2nd Team honors from Media)

-Earned a spot on the 50-man Naismith Trophy Watch List

6’6 SR G Josiah-Jordan James 11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg

-Preseason All-SEC (1st Team honors from Coaches, and 2nd Team honors from Media)

-Named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Julius Erving Award watch list

Overview:

FGCU looks for a signature road win vs #22 Tennessee Wednesday night from Thompson-Boling Arena. The Volunteers were ranked #11, before losing to Colorado, 78-66 at home last week. The Volunteers defeated #2 Gonzaga, 99-80, in an exhibition game in Frisco, Texas on 10/29. Head Coach Rick Barnes has led the team since 2015, and the Volunteers have been to the NCAA Tournament four straight seasons. Coach Barnes has also produced six NBA draft prospects in seven seasons. 6’2 GR G Tyrese Key leads the Volunteers in scoring, averaging 16.0 ppg. 6’9 SR F Oliver Nkamhoua will be the frontcourt threat the Volunteers possess, and we can expect to see a combination of Andre Weir, Zach Anderson, and hopefully Sam Onu guard him depending on Coach Pat Chambers rotation of the frontcourt. Zakai Zeigler, was removed from his starting role by Head Coach Rick Barnes, after a turnover plagued start to the game vs Colorado. Zeigler is the 2nd leading scorer for the Volunteers (12.0 ppg).

FGCU is led in scoring by Chase Johnston, who averages 18.0 ppg. Chase earned ASUN Player of the Week honors, after scoring 20 points to knock off USC, and contributed 23 points vs San Diego, in a closely contested contest with the Toreros. This Eagles team has a buzz to it this season with new Head Coach Pat Chambers, and for FGCU to defeat #22 Tennessee, turnovers will have to be limited, and the guards will have to strongly defend Key, Zeigler, and Jordan-James.