No. 17 Tennessee vs No. 3 Houston: Preview, Matchups, and Prediction

Joseph Klein
7 minutes ago
3 min read

Players Era Men's Championship

Date: November 25, 2025

Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Time: 7 PM ET on TNT

How Do the Two Teams Match Up?

#17 Tennessee comes into this matchup with a 5–0 record, fresh off an impressive win over Rutgers. The Volunteers rank outside the top 30 in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, though they enter this game with a +129 point differential in the paint. Inside, they’ve been led by a dominant group of forwards in Nate Ament, J.P. Estrella, and Felix Okpara. That trio has been a major reason why Tennessee is so effective in the paint. However, the Volunteers have been extremely reliant on one guard.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been the go-to option for Tennessee’s offense. He is coming off an impressive 32-point performance against Rutgers and is averaging six assists. Outside of Gillespie, they’ve been thin at the guard position. Even with limited guard production, Tennessee has been one of the best defensive teams in the nation. They rank third in defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and are allowing opponents to shoot just 26.94% from three. Felix Okpara has been a major interior presence, and his size makes life difficult for opposing offenses.

Meanwhile, Houston has looked every bit like a #3-ranked team. The Cougars rank similarly to Tennessee in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, but they play a very different style. Houston ranks seventh nationally in three-point percentage and has been fueled by strong guard play. They are led by Kingston Flemings and Emmanuel Sharp, who both average 15+ points and shoot the ball extremely well from deep. Milos Uzan is another quality guard, coming off a 26-point game against Syracuse.

Defensively, Houston thrives just as much as Tennessee does. The Cougars have the best defensive efficiency rating in the country, according to KenPom. They’ve been outstanding on the perimeter and even better near the rim, where they rank first nationally in opponent near-rim percentage. A big reason for that is big man Joseph Tugler, a 6’8”, 230-pound shot-blocking force averaging 2.8 blocks per game. Chris Cenac Jr. has also provided a strong interior presence for Houston.

Keys for Tennessee to Win

Play Fast – Houston plays at the third-slowest pace in the country and does not want to get sped up. The Cougars thrive in half-court sets on both ends. Tennessee must push the tempo.
Guard Play Beyond Gillespie – Ja'Kobi Gillespie has been excellent and reliable, but Tennessee lacks other guards who can score consistently. Ethan Burg or Amaree Abram needs to step up and provide support in the backcourt.
Make Houston’s Role Players Beat You – Kingston Flemings and Emmanuel Sharp have proven offensive ability, while Joseph Tugler, Chris Cenac Jr., and Milos Uzan have largely been feeding off them. If Tennessee can limit Sharp and Flemings and force others to carry the scoring load, they improve their chances.

Keys for Houston to Win

Make It a Half-Court Game – Houston thrives in half-court sets. If the Cougars control the pace and avoid speeding up, they can dictate the terms of the game. A faster tempo benefits Tennessee.
Make Gillespie Uncomfortable – Gillespie is the engine for Tennessee’s offense. If Houston disrupts him, the Volunteers lack proven secondary guard play to keep things afloat.

Final Thoughts

This game will be a battle in the trenches between two of the top three defensive teams in the country. The question is: which team will create extra possessions and knock down open shots?

If Tennessee wants to win, its forwards must step up, and they must limit Houston’s three-point shooting. For Houston, it all starts with the guards. Can they overwhelm Tennessee’s thin backcourt, and can Emmanuel Sharp and Kingston Flemings maintain their offensive consistency?

I am backing Houston in this one. Tennessee has yet to face a team as high-caliber as Houston, and its lack of guard depth will make it difficult to keep pace with a deep, talented Cougars team.