KenPom predicts final four games of Tennessee regular season

Vol fans, rejoice! Tennessee has been on a roll and playing strong basketball heading down the stretch of the season. Previously, the Volunteers rode a five-game winning streak before falling to the Arkansas Razorbacks 58-48 Saturday. Now ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and appear to be a legitimate contender for the SEC championship – and a team that could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. 

After picking up a huge 76-63 win over then-No. 4 ranked Kentucky last Tuesday, Tennessee followed that up with its stinker at No. 18 Arkansas. For the Volunteers’ sake, hopefully that’s the last time they lay an egg this season. If they do – it’ll come back at haunt them, and potentially end their season.

In terms of KenPom, Tennessee’s final four regular season games have been predicted – and the numbers are in favor of the Volunteers. Here’s a look at how KenPom sees Rick Barnes’ club matching up in their next five outings, beginning Saturday on the road against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

KenPom’s predictions for Tennessee’s next four games:

1.) at Missouri, Tuesday, Feb. 22: The Volunteers are predicted to win 71-60, with a 84% chance.

2.) vs. Auburn, Saturday, Feb. 26: The Volunteers are predicted to win 71-68, with a 59% chance.

3.) at Georgia, Tuesday, March 1: The Volunteers are predicted to win 80-65, with a 92% chance.

4.) vs. Arkansas, Saturday, March 5: The Volunteers are predicted to win 72-65, with a 74% chance.

If KenPom’s predictions are correct, Tennessee will have an overall record of 22-8 with a 13-5 mark in SEC play heading into the SEC Tournament in mid-March.

Rick Barnes criticizes the officials following Tennessee’s road loss to Arkansas

A poor offensive performance littered with foul trouble on the defensive end spelled disaster for head coach Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday afternoon in their 58-48 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Barnes was specifically frustrated on the amount of charge calls called against his team.

“You can’t play the game — the guys are frustrated,” Barnes said of the consistent foul calls in their loss. “I know it’s a hard call, but again, that’s the one that, I mean, from a referee standpoint, I know they would say it’s one of the hardest calls, but that’s the one they’ve got to study, study, study.”

Barnes said he hopes he feels different when he watches the tape back, but knew Saturday’s matchup was going to be a physical one coming in. One the other side of the coin, we’re in February, each team has played enough, officials have studied the game enough to call those pesky block/charge 50-50 plays the right way. Barnes noted that there are tendencies out there and that’s one of the toughest calls to make in a split second during the middle of a game.

“You’ve got to protect the guy that leaves his feet just like from the three point line. If a guy goes up, you got to give them room to come down, and the same things got to be true when you when you take off,” Barnes said.