The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers (#1 AP, #1 ESPN/USA Today) will face the University of North Carolina Tarheels (#4 AP, #4 ESPN/USA Today) in an early season battle between two of last season’s Final Four participants. The game, played in Knoxville, will be the first road game of the season for UNC, who have enjoyed a 9-0 start in the friendly confines of Carmichael Auditorium at Chapel Hill. UT is currently 5-0, coming off an 81-60 victory over LA Tech on Nov. 25.

This game, although played relatively early in the 2007-2008 season, will most likely have big implications come NCAA Tournament time. UT and UNC faced each other twice last season, with the Tarheels winning early in Chapel Hill by a score of 70-57, but then the Lady Vols handed UNC the loss that ended their season, defeating them 56-50 in the national semifinal game in Cleveland. Today’s game marks the first time UNC has ventured to Knoxville during the regular season since 1986, a fact that isn’t lost on fans of the Big Orange. Today’s game, if not a sellout, will be near capacity, and Lady Vols’ fans will be sure to give the women in Carolina blue a raucous and not so friendly welcome.

Tennessee is led by Candace Parker, who is currently averaging 22.8 points and 9 rebounds per game. She is joined in the starting lineup by Angie Bjorklund, a true freshman who has started every game in her freshman campaign. Another player to watch for UT is junior Alexis Hornbuckle, who surpassed the 1,000 point mark in their game with West Virginia. North Carolina is led by senior forward Erlana Larkins, a dominating presence in the low post who currently ranks in the top 10 in six different UNC career statistical categories. Junior guard Rashonda McCants has scored in double figures in seven of their first nine games, and freshman guard Cetera Degraffenreid has put up some impressive stats since entering the starting lineup, averaging 15.4 points per game while going an impressive 30 of 32 from the line.

Probable starters for UT:
Candace Parker, 6’4” junior G/F/C – 22.8 ppg, 9 rpg
Angie Bjorklund, 6’ freshman G/F – 9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Nicky Anosike, 6’4” senior C – 8.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Shannon Bobbitt, 5’2” senior G – 10.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Alexis Hornbuckle, 5’11” senior G – 8.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Probable starters for UNC:
Rashanda McCants, 6’1” junior G/F – 16.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Erlana Larkins, 6’2” senior F – 9.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg
LaToya Pringle, 6’3” senior F/C – 11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Cetera DeGraffenreid, 5’6” freshman G – 12.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Heather Claytor, 5’8” junior G – 6 ppg, 1.8 rpg

My prediction is this one may be too close to call, but I’m calling it anyway. UNC hasn’t really been tested so far this season, and they will be playing in the most hostile environment an opposing team will ever face. So UT’s gonna take this one.

Game notes: Sylvia Hatchell, a 1974 graduate of Carson Newman, received her Master’s degree in physical education from the University of Tennessee in 1975. Hatchell also coached the UT junior varsity team for the 1974-1975 season, which was Pat Summitt’s first season at the helm of the Lady Vols. Remember: there’s always an SEC connection…

Game time is set for 7 pm EST and will be televised on ESPN2.