Tennessee Battles Auburn: Hoops Central Showdown
As the 2025-26 college basketball season continues, the Tennessee Volunteers (14-6, 4-3) are poised to meet the Auburn Tigers (14-7, 5-3) at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday. The game is set to commence at 8:30 p.m. ET. This matchup serves as the annual “Checker” Food City game.
Fans can determine their section’s color designation by visiting UTsports.com/checker. All attending students will also receive T-shirts in either orange or white, courtesy of Uber Eats. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and available for streaming via the ESPN App, with play-by-play coverage provided by Dave Neal and analyst Dane Bradshaw. Local radio listeners can catch the game through their Vol Network affiliate, featuring Mike Keith and Chris Lofton.
Tennessee vs. Auburn: A Competitive History
- The last encounter between the two teams saw Tennessee edging Auburn 70-65 during the SEC Tournament semifinals on March 15, 2025, propelled by Zakai Zeigler’s 20-point performance.
- In their previous two meetings last year, both ranked in the AP top eight, Tennessee and Auburn were separated by only seven points.
- Tennessee has a recent record of 4-2 against Auburn, overcoming a previous six-game losing streak.
- This game marks the end of a 12-game streak in the series with at least one team ranked, dating from January 2, 2018, to March 15, 2025.
Coaching Connections
Auburn’s head coach, Steven Pearl, is an alumnus of Tennessee, where he played under his father, Bruce Pearl, from 2007 to 2011. During that period, the Volunteers recorded an impressive 99-42 record.
Auburn had a remarkable season, finishing 32-6 overall, winning the SEC regular season title, and reaching the Final Four, despite being predicted to finish sixth in the SEC this year. Keyshawn Hall leads the Tigers with an impressive 20.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Noteworthy Insights
- Auburn’s assistant coach, Ira Bowman, played under Rick Barnes at Providence, contributing to the team’s 34 victories.
- Chris Lofton, Tennessee’s radio analyst, has played alongside both Dane Bradshaw and Steven Pearl during his collegiate career.
- The Tigers’ Joah Shay is the son of Jason Shay, a former assistant coach at Tennessee from 2005-2011.
Tennessee’s Recent Performances
Tennessee has shown resilience in recent games, having two of their last four contests extend to overtime, winning both. Additionally, they achieved a remarkable 26 offensive rebounds against Georgia, tying for the fifth most in program history and setting a new record in SEC play.
Star player Nate Ament continues to shine, recently securing SEC Freshman of the Week honors and consistently scoring over 20 points in multiple games. His remarkable performances illustrate his critical role in the Volunteers’ success this season.
Conclusion
The upcoming showdown between Tennessee and Auburn promises to be a fiercely contested battle on the court. With both teams vying for crucial victories, fans can anticipate an exciting game. Stay updated with all the latest news and information on this matchup by visiting Filmogaz.com.
