Oakland Vs. No. 7 Tennessee: Can The Golden Grizzlies Knock Off The Vols

GAME NOTES: The seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers set their sights on the Oakland Grizzlies this evening, as they return to Knoxville for non-conference action.

Bruce Pearl's Volunteers are a perfect 7-0 on the season and have a pair of marquee victories on their resume, knocking off top-10 foes Villanova (78-68) and most recently, Pittsburgh (83-76). The fast start is the best mark under Pearl and leaves the Vols as the only unbeaten team in the SEC.

The Grizzlies have more victories in the Summit League (85) over the last four years than any other team in the conference. Greg Kampe's team certainly doesn't shy away from competition, as this will be the fourth ranked opponent Oakland has faced this season and third straight. The team has certainly taken top competition to task of late, with narrow losses to Illinois (74-63) and Michigan State (77-76) in the last six days.

This is the first time these two teams will have met on the hardwood.

The Grizzlies don't get much attention outside of the Summit League, but the defending conference champions earned notice from Michigan State, which was able to just hold on for a one-point victory over Oakland on Saturday. The Grizzlies shot a solid .475 from the floor against the Spartans and placed five players in double figures, led by Larry Wright's 21 points. All- conference center Keith Benson finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Drew Valentine added 11 and Will Hudson and Reggie Hamilton 10 apiece. This team is led by it 6-11 senior center, as Benson has been dominant in the low post, averaging team-highs of 18.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game. Hamilton and Hudson provide the necessary perimeter support, netting 15.5 and 13.3 ppg, respectively.

The Volunteers are getting it done both inside and out, with veteran guard Scotty Hopson in the backcourt and freshman sensation Tobias Harris up front. Hopson is converting nearly 50 percent of his shots thus far (.494) and paces the team with 17.9 ppg. Harris is right at .500 shooting and adds 15.3 points per game, while grabbing 6.0 rebounds. Cameron Tatum (12.1 ppg) and Melvin Goins (9.0 ppg) add scoring depth for a team that is averaging 78.7 ppg. Hopson was brilliant in the huge win over Pittsburgh last time out, as he hit 10-of-13 shots from the floor to finish with a career-high 27 points. Goins went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line to tack on 19 points. This was almost a true road game as it took place in Pittsburgh at the CONSOL Energy Center, but that didn't seem to concern the Vols, who shot an impressive .563 from the floor, bolstered by a .636 effort from behind the arc (7-of-11).

The Grizzlies are a strong mid-major, but playing in Knoxville against a Tennessee team brimming with confidence is a tall task indeed.

GAME NOTES: The seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers set their sights on the Oakland Grizzlies this evening, as they return to Knoxville for non-conference action.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Thompson-Boling Arena (21,678) -- Knoxville, Tennessee. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Oakland 2-0, Tennessee 4-0. Away Record: Oakland 1-4, Tennessee 0-0. Neutral Record: Oakland 2-1, Tennessee 3-0. Conference Record: Oakland 2-0, Tennessee 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

Tennessee 77, Oakland 65