NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Vanderbilt returns home on Saturday to face a Tennessee squad who’s won seven of its last eight games.
The Commodores are coming off a one-point loss at Missouri, where Tyler Tanner’s last-second shot to win rimmed out.
Now, Vanderbilt turns the page to its in-state rival and the Commodores expect the return of their second-leading scorer, Duke Miles.
Miles missed the last six games with a knee injury.
“He’s in incredible shape,” said Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington.
“Watching him in practice, he looks really good. I think his rhythm will be good. There is an adjustment. What helps him, he’s very smart. He watches the game and understands it. He’s been staying locked in, so if there is a bit of an adjustment, I don’t think it’ll be for long. We expect him to contribute.”
Miles was averaging nearly 17 points per game before his absence.
Meanwhile, the Volunteers rolled into town on Friday. They’re led by freshman guard Nate Ament, who’s averaging 18.2 points per outing.
Ament dropped 29 points in a win over Oklahoma earlier this week.
Vols’ point guard Ja’kobi Gillespie is the floor general. The former Belmont point guard returns to Nashville to face his newly acquired rivals.
“I’ve watched it growing up, but it’s my first time playing in it,” says Gillespie. “It’ll be exciting. I think it’ll be fun. I feel like it’s going to be crazy, but I don’t really know. I’m just ready to see it.”
Jaylen Carey returns to Memorial Gym as a Volunteer. This time last year, he was wearing a Vanderbilt uniform.
“I put a lot into him personally,” said Byington.
“This probably will surprise people, but when you put a lot into somebody, I’m cheering for him. I want him to be successful. He’s at a different school right now. That’s the path he’s chosen. Years from now, hopefully he’s a great father and person, and hopefully, I was a big part of that.”
The Vols and Commodores tip it off at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
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