Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie makes a very subtle challenge to Vol fans ahead of rivalry clash with Vanderbilt
The Vols’ starting point guard will be making his first showing in the intrastate rivalry.
The University of Tennessee is the flagship school for the Volunteer State, and naturally, its alumni and fan base stretches across the state. Ergo, when the Vols go on the road in the state, which typically is in Nashville, Vol fans show up and show out.
Tennessee normally turns FirstBank Stadium into a home field advantage when the Vols and Commodores do battle on the gridiron. That was on display two years ago, when Tennessee beat Vanderbilt before another typically pro-Tennessee crowd 36-23 to lock up their first ever College Football Playoff spot.
But the challenge in Nashville has been greater in recent years on the hardwood. Tennessee has gone into Memorial Gym and suffered a couple of heartbreakers in two of the last three years.
On February 8, 2023, Vanderbilt hit a three pointer at the buzzer to win 66-65 after Tennessee failed to ice the game at the free throw line. Last season, Tennessee rallied furiously late, but Chaz Lanier missed a free throw in the final seconds that would have tied the game. The Vols lost 76-75.
The latest chapter in the rivalry comes on Saturday afternoon in Nashville. After Tennessee’s 89-66 win over Oklahoma on Wednesday night, Vols guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie was asked about, having lived in Nashville, playing in the Tennessee-Vanderbilt rivalry. With a grin, he talked about how Vol fans will often turn Memorial Gym significantly orange.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie says Memorial Gym is usually half and half for Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
“Yeah, I’m super excited just to play in Tennessee. I heard it’s like orange and then black, like half and half, so that’ll be exciting. I feel like our biggest key will be like what we did tonight, taking care of the ball. Really guarding on defense, and just getting a shot every time, and I feel like we’ll win.”
Gillespie isn’t wrong in that Tennessee fans will turn out and support in Nashville, both those living locally and those who make the two-and-a-half-hour trip down I-40 for the game.
And this might be the toughest Vanderbilt team that Tennessee has faced in quite a while. The Commodores were ranked No. 19 in the latest AP Poll and sit at 21-5 overall and 8-5 in the SEC. It will take a strong effort from Tennessee to pull off the win in Memorial Gym.
Gillespie mentioning the crowd split should be a call to fans considering going to the game. The more orange in the seats, the better the environment it’ll be for Tennessee in a tough matchup that could decide if the Vols end up getting one of the four coveted double byes in the SEC Tournament next month.
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