Lawrence, KS (Sports Network) - The 14th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers of the SEC and the Kansas Jayhawks of the Big 12 will collide at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence this afternoon.

Tennessee has won its last three games to improve to 9-2 overall. The Vols are fresh off an 89-62 decision over UL-Lafayette on Monday and began the current three-game run with a decision over a strong Marquette squad. Tennessee has yet to begin SEC play, but many consider Bruce Pearl's club the favorite to win that league.

As for Kansas, the defending national champion, it has won two of its last three contests to move to 9-3 this season. The club is 8-1 at home and is coming off a 79-43 romp over Albany on Tuesday. Clearly, however, the competition level increases significantly today. Of the three losses suffered by Bill Self's team thus far, one came in overtime and another occurred by one point in regulation.

Surprisingly, this bout marks the first-ever meeting between Tennessee and Kansas on the hardwood.

Tennessee is scoring 84.5 ppg this season while allowing only 72.2 ppg to the opposition. Tyler Smith is generating 16.9 ppg as the team's leading scorer, and the versatile forward can do it all on the court. Wayne Chism checks in with 11.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg, while J.P. Prince provides 10.9 ppg. Tennessee is outrebounding its foes by nearly 10 boards per contest, a major key to the 9-2 record. In the romp over UL-Lafayette on Monday, Chism posted 18 points and 12 rebounds in only 24 minutes of action. As for Smith, he scored 10 points in 25 minutes. The Vols played tremendous defense in that tilt, forcing 22 turnovers while limiting their overmatched opponents to 37.9 percent shooting from the field. A 47-35 rebounding advantage and a 20-3 edge in points from the foul line contributed to the win.

Sherron Collins is scoring 16.9 ppg for Kansas, and he is dishing out 4.8 apg. Cole Aldrich checks in with 14.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg, and the big man has blocked 29 shots as well. Those two players are the only current members of the squad who made significant contributions a year ago. Tyshawn Taylor is the third and final double-digit scorer for the Jayhawks, as he is netting an even 10.0 ppg. Through 12 outings, Kansas is generating 79.4 ppg while limiting opponents to 62.7 ppg on 37.7 percent shooting from the field. In the 36-point romp over Albany on Tuesday, Aldrich scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Tyrel Reed pitched in 12 points off the bench on the strength of a 3- of-5 effort from three-point range. The Jayhawks connected on 56.3 percent of their field goal attempts in the clash and limited Albany to 30 percent, including 0-of-15 from three-point range. A 16-7 edge in points from the foul line also helped the cause.