Tennessee basketball vs Mississippi State score prediction in SEC Tournament quarterfinals

Tennessee basketball is entering the SEC Tournament looking for its second conference tournament title under coach Rick Barnes.

The No. 1 seed Vols (24-7) open against No. 9 Mississippi State (20-12) on Friday (1 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Bulldogs advanced by beating No. 8-seeded LSU 70-60 on Thursday in the second round.

Here is what to know about the matchup:

Let it fly, Santiago Vescovi

Santiago Vescovi became the second player in Tennessee history to make 100 3-pointers in a season when he made 102 in the 2021-22 season.

The fifth-year senior has attempted 120 3-pointers this season, making 41. Barnes and Vescovi's teammates have implored him to shoot more and Barnes hopes being in the postseason will unlock Vescovi's assertiveness offensively.

“He’s done so much for us and I just want to see him go out on a great note and play up to his ability and what he’s capable of," Barnes said. "I think that so many people are pulling for him to do that, but it’s going to be up to him. He knows what he’s capable of and he’s got to believe in it and he’s got to go out and go after it."

Vescovi has carried Tennessee's offense, at times, in his career. He is still making a high volume of winning plays, which Barnes has pointed out often. But within that there remains a desire to see Vescovi shoot more freely. He has the ability to unlock the offense even more and open things up for Dalton Knecht and others.

How Tennessee basketball fared vs Mississippi State in regular season

Mississippi State is the only SEC team that Tennessee did not beat on its way to the SEC regular-season title. The Vols lost 77-72 on Jan. 10 in Starkville in the lone meeting between the teams.

UT beat the other 12 SEC teams at least once.

Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith had 23 points, while freshman guard Josh Hubbard had 25 with five 3-pointers in the MSU win. Dalton Knecht scored 28 points with 26 in the second half to lead a rapid Vols comeback.

LIFE: Blacktop basketball and big perspective: Inside Cade Phillips' unique childhood

Tennessee basketball's history in SEC Tournament under Rick Barnes

Tennessee has reached the SEC Tournament title game three times in the past five editions. It won the title in 2022, the program's first since 1979.

The Vols also had a double-bye in all three tournaments in which it reached the title game. UT lost the championship game in 2018 to Kentucky and in 2019 to Auburn. It beat Texas A&M to win the 2022 title in Tampa, Florida.

UT lost in the semifinals to Alabama in 2021 and in the quarterfinals to Missouri last season. It reached the quarterfinals as the No. 12 seed in 2016 and was bounced in its first game in 2017.

Tennessee basketball score prediction vs Mississippi State in SEC Tournament quarterfinals

Tennessee 79, Mississippi State 68: The Vols top MSU to move to the Saturday semifinals and one step closer to potentially securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball vs. Mississippi State score prediction is in