AJ Hoggard blunt about upcoming Tennessee rivalry game: 'We don't like them, they don't like us'

On Saturday, first-year Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington will lead the Commodores into battle against Tennessee. After Vanderbilt’s win over South Carolina on Wednesday, Michigan State transfer AJ Hoggard weighed in on the impending rivalry game.

“I’m just treating it how I used to treat Michigan State versus Michigan,” Hoggard said. “We don’t like them, they don’t like us.”

While it’s technically a rivalry between Vanderbilt and Tennessee, the history of the matchup is lopsided. The Volunteers boast an all-time record of 131-76 against the Commodores.

Tennessee has been especially dominant in recent years, winning 13 of the two teams’ last 14 meetings. The Volunteers are entering the game on Saturday on a two-game win streak against Vanderbilt. The Commodores last downed Tennessee on Feb. 8, 2023, when Tyrin Lawrence knocked down a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Now, Vanderbilt will look to add another tally to its win column against the Volunteers. AJ Hoggard may not be privy to the history of the rivalry but he’ll certainly be pivotal in the showdown.

Hoggard is averaging 11.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 40.5% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc. Hoggard has only heated up during conference play, scoring 14 or more points in three of the Commodores’ four games against SEC opponents.

Although Vanderbilt is the underdog against Tennessee on Saturday, the Commodores can’t be overlooked. The team is 13-3 and 2-2 in conference play with wins over South Carolina and LSU. Additionally, Vanderbilt handed Seton Hall a 76-60 shellacking earlier this season.

Head coach Mark Byington is excited to experience the Vanderbilt-Tennessee rivalry for the first time.

“When you’re at different places you understand kind of the intensity with rivals and then the rivalry games,” Byington said. “And I’ve been a part of some good ones.

“Excited about this one, excited about, the fans, that the crowd, the energy and we can’t let that get caught up in us trying to perform our job and do the best we can there, but it’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

Byington won’t have to wait much longer. Vanderbilt and Tennessee will go head-to-head at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday inside Memorial Gymnasium. The game will air live on the SEC Network.