COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball (7-18, 2-11) hits the road for Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 18, with the Tigers facing Tennessee (14-12, 6-7) at Noon CT inside Thompson-Boling Arena. Live coverage will be provided by the SEC Network and the Tiger Radio Network.

• The Tigers handed the Volunteers a sound defeat in last season's only Mizzou-Tennessee matchup (Feb. 13, 2016), winning the first-ever #RallyForRhyan Game by a score of 75-64.
• The second-ever #RallyForRhyan Game, an 83-78 win vs. Arkansas (Feb. 4) was a success on and off the court, with more than $54,000 raised for pediatric cancer research.
• Head coach Kim Anderson won his 300th career game as Mizzou defeated Vanderbilt, 72-52 (Feb. 11). The Tigers were sparked by a second consecutive 23-point game from junior forward Jordan Barnett. 
• The entire 2016-17 Mizzou roster is made up of first- or second-year players. Not a single member of the Black & Gold has been with the squad for three seasons. According to KenPom.com, the Tigers rank 331st out of 351 NCAA Division I teams in terms of experience.
• Barnett has led Mizzou in scoring seven times since becoming eligible after his transfer (16 games played).

OPPONENT - TENNESSEE

• Tennessee enters the matchup with visiting Mizzou holding a record of 6-7 in Southeastern Conference play and 14-12 overall. The Volunteers have experienced success at home this season, going 9-4 at Thompson-Boling Arena while posting a record of 5-8 away from home (4-5 road, 1-3 neutral site).
• Led by head coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee went 8-5 in nonconference play before dropping three of its first four conference games. After the tough four-game stretch, UT won six of eight conference games before dropping its two latest conference contests.
• The Volunteers are led by senior guard Robert Hubbs III, while is averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 83.2 percent (79-of-95) from the free throw line. Freshman forward Grant Williams is second on the team, averaging 12.3 points per game.
• Williams leads the Vols in rebounding, averaging 5.4 boards per game, while Hubbs III is second on the team with 4.9 per game. Williams leads the team in offensive rebounds with 65, while sophomore forward Kyle Alexander has snagged 47.
• Tennessee is averaging 76.3 points and 37.8 rebounds per game through 26 contests, allowing 73.5 points and 37.3 rebounds per game to it opponents. Foes of the Volunteers have shot 42.7 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from the three-point line.

BATTLE AGAINST BAMA GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE

• Mizzou led Alabama, 23-18, at halftime of the Southeastern Conference matchup at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 15, with its 18 points allowed standing as its lowest first half total of the Tigers' conference season.
• The Crimson Tide fought back in the second half, eventually taking the lead as the clock went inside the four-minute media timeout, 50-47 at 3:45. A three-point play from sophomore guard K.J. Walton (Indianapolis, Ind.) left Mizzou facing a one-point deficit with 1:31 remaining.
• Mizzou's defense ramped up, holding the Alabama offensive at bay. Subsequent possessions for the Tigers ended in a turnover and a missed look in the lane. The Crimson Tide grew their lead to three points at the foul line with only seconds remaining, and a half court heave from the Tigers came up short of forcing overtime.

WALTON STOCK ON THE RISE AGAIN

• Speaking of sophomore guard K.J. Walton (Indianapolis, Ind.), the Tiger has enjoyed one of the most impressive stretches of his career. Walton has reached double figures in scoring in five of the last six games, averaging 11.0 points per game in that time span.
• Walton's latest was a 12-point, five-rebound game vs. Alabama (Feb. 15), leading the Tigers in scoring for the fourth time this season. He also recorded a season-high three assists, one shy of his career-best.
• While Walton did not reach the 10-point barrier vs. Vanderbilt (Feb. 11), he did help push the Tigers to victory with a strong outing on the glass, as his nine rebounds were the second-best total of his career. The Tiger hauled in a career-high 13 boards vs. Auburn (Jan. 10) earlier this season.

LAST TIME VS. TENNESSEE 

• Mizzou's last matchup with Tennessee (Feb. 13, 2016) was a special occasion, as Mizzou Athletics hosted the first-ever #RallyForRhyan Game as the Volunteers visited Mizzou Arena. The event raised more than $50,000 for pediatric cancer research in support of Rhyan Loos.
• The Tigers benefited from 17 points from then-freshman Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.) and shot an impressive 54.5 percent (24-of-44) from the field en route to a 75-64 win. Mizzou was also sound from the free throw line, sinking 22-of-30 foul shots (73.3 percent).

NO. 300 FOR ANDERSON

• Mizzou head coach Kim Anderson claimed the 300th win of his career as the Tigers defeated Vanderbilt, 72-52, on Feb. 11. The Tigers surprised Anderson with a commemorative basketball for the occasion as the Mizzou leader was sitting down for a postgame interview with the SEC Network commentary crew.
• Anderson, in his 15th season as a head coach, has averaged a strong 20 wins per season, to date. The former Central Missouri coach (2002-14) claimed the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship with the Mules before returning to his alma mater before the 2014-15 season.