Know Your Foe: Tennessee State
By: Dallas Bowlin
Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host
All Vol Call In Show
Tennessee is 2-0. Was it always pretty? No. But no one apologizes for winning. Except for Charlie Sheen. Maybe. Anyway.
Next up, the Vols welcome the Tennessee State Tigers from the Ohio Valley Conference into Thompson-Boling Arena @ Food City Center. Tennessee leads the series 7-0, with the last matchup coming on November 20th, 2025. The Volunteers won that game 89-60 behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s 17 points on 7-of-13 from the field.
KEY RETURNEES:
F Kavien Jones: Averaging 8.0 PPG, 5.7 REBS
G Jayden Jones: Averaging 10 .0 PPG, 4.7 REBS, shooting 65% from the field
KEY NEWCOMERS:
F Deondrea Lindsey (Iona transfer): Averaging 12.7 PPG, 3.3 REBS, shooting 56% from the field.
G Arterio Morris (Texas transfer): Averaging 11.7 PPG, 6.0 AST, 39.3% FG
F Aaron Bradshaw (Memphis transfer): Averaging 14.3 PPG, 6.7 REBS, 3.0 BLKS
G Christian Alston (Abilene Christian transfer): 9.7 PPG, 45.8% FG, 2.0 STLS
G Ty-Laur Johnson (San Diego transfer): 11.7 PPG, 6.3 AST, 50% FG, 30% 3PT FG
G Ajayi Simmons (North Idaho transfer): 8.3 PPG, 5.7 REBS, 72.7% FG
KEY LOSSES:
G Aaron Nkrumah (Graduated): Averaged 17.7 PPG, 5.5 REBS, 2.8 STLS
G Travis Harper II (Graduated): Averaged 17.1 PPG, 4.1 REBS, 1.1 STLS
G Dante Harris (Graduated): Averaged 11.7 PPG, 4.5 AST, 1.7 STLS
TEAM SUMMARY:
Tennessee State is led by Nolan Smith, who is in his second season at the helm. The Tigers finished 23-10, setting a program high for wins in the DI era, and sweeping the OVC regular season and conference tournament titles, securing their first NCAA Tournament berth in 32 years.
They finished ranked 191st on KenPom with an offensive rating of 109.2 (171st) and a defensive rating of 111.3 (215th)
Through three games this season, they currently sit 236th with an offensive rating of 100.3 (278th) and a defensive rating of 106.8 (185th).
Traveler Aaron Bradshaw (Kentucky, Ohio State, Memphis, Tennessee State) leads the team in points per game (14.3), rebounds per game (6.7), and blocks per game (3.0)
The Tigers are 2-1, with their lone loss coming to Murray State, the 97th-ranked team on Barttorvik and the 81st-ranked team on KenPom, by a final score of 94-64.
OFFENSE:
Nolan Smith likes to run a very fast-paced, downhill attacking style of offense, drawing from his time playing and coaching under the legendary Coach K. The modern pace-and-space, four-out-one-in. A very NBA-style offense. Many coaches call this style “conceptual” rather than a play-based offense. Very much a read-and-react style.
One of the few set plays the Tigers run is called “Hawk action,” an empty-side ball screen with stagger-down action on the weak side.
Below is an example of State running it via Unforgiven Hoops on YouTube
That downhill, attacking style has led to the Tigers getting to the line at an elite rate. Their free throw rate of 63.6 on Barttorvik ranks sixth in the nation. That could be heavily bolstered by their 35(!) attempted free throws against Murray State, but they did attempt 25 and 23 against Fisk and East West.
They rank 45th on Barttorvik and 19th on KenPom for tempo.
DEFENSE:
To fuel their transition offense, the Tigers lean heavily on applying full-court pressure to create havoc and force turnovers. During the 2025-2026 season, Tennessee State ranked 12th nationally in steals per game at 9.3 per contest. So far this season, opponents are turning the ball over 23 times a game against the Tigers.
Defensive rebounding is a huge staple of Smith’s as well; he requires all five players to make contact and box out.
Limiting three-point opportunities is another huge point of emphasis. So far this season, the Tigers are 33rd in three-point rate defense on Barttorvik
HOW TENNESSEE CAN WIN:
Limit fast break opportunities. Tennessee will have to prevent leakouts, or turning the ball over in live ball situations, to do so. The Tigers will test the Volunteers' defense.
Defend without fouling. As I mentioned, Tennessee State has done an elite job at getting to the charity stripe. If the Vols can play clean defense, it will go a long way.
Shot selection. One of Tennessee’s biggest issues so far this season is shot selection. I don’t hate a midrange jumper. But when you’re struggling, getting to the rim and creating open three-point looks can help get you in rhythm and open up more chances to get to the midrange for a much better shot.
HOW TENNESSEE STATE CAN WIN:
Turnover the Vols. Tennessee turned the ball over 16 times against Radford. If the Tigers can replicate it or even improve on that, a win is not out of the question.
Defend the rim. Tennessee has had struggles offensively, especially Juke Harris. If the Tigers can stop drives to the rim or contest the best they can, you could begin to see those contested mid-range jumpers that I talked about earlier.
PREDICTION:
This is one that I could see being eerily similar to Radford. It definitely has that potential. In the end, the talent advantage overcomes, and Tennessee gets a win and begins to prepare for its first real test against the Michigan State Spartans
TENNESSEE - 85 | TENNESSEE STATE - 70
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