Tech men’s basketball won 80-69 in their exhibition game against Cumberland University. Head coach John Pelphrey said, “We had 22 assists, and everyone was very impressed considering this is basically a brand new team.” On Monday, Nov. 8, Tech will play the Tennessee Volunteers at 6 p.m. The Vols are also coming from a win against the number-two-ranked Gonzaga. Tennessee won the game 99-80. while Tech lost.
The last time Tech won was on Dec. 4, 1996, and it was a close game with a score of 73-62. That was Tech’s only win since the rivalry started back in 1939. The Vols have a 24-1 advantage against Tech. Tech has only played 12 out of 14 SEC teams. The two teams Tech has not played are LSU and Texas A&M.“When we were looking for starting players, we wanted guys who love to play basketball and who really wanted to play. Also, we wanted guys who wanted to improve on their skills and guys that would work together as a team,” said Pelphrey.
This is John Plephrey’s fourth season here at Tech since graduating from Kentucky in 1992. His coaching staff includes Alex Fain, a fourth year assistant coach who graduated from Alabama in 2013; Blake Gray, a second-year head coach at Tech – but his fourth year overall – who graduated from Alabama in 2014; and Andrew Steele, a second-year head coach who also graduated from Alabama in 2012.
After their game against the Volunteers, Tech will face off against Tennessee Wesleyan on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. for a home game. After that, the next game will be away at Marshal on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. Tech will then have their next three games at home. The first game is against Coppin State at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, then ETSU at 3 p.m. on Nov. 20, and finally, Truett McConnel at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22. They will play Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m. on Nov. 27. The last home game is against Chattanooga at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30. All games can be watched on ESPN+.
