Austin Peay carries a small name but they have a big game. The No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers will find out tonight when the Governors come calling at 7:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena.

They won three games up there so they’re a very good team at 3-0 right now, Vol head coach Jerry Green said. It will not be easy.

The Governors beat Jackson State and Colorado to win the Top of the World Classic while also beating Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis prior to tonight’s matchup. The Governors are picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference.

Austin Peay boasts one of the most talented players in the nation in 6-foot-6 wing Trenton Hassell. The senior can shoot, rebound or dish out the assist. The problem is that nobody has ever heard of him.

They have an All-American up there in Trenton Hassell, Green said.

Last season, Hassell led the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring (18.1), rebounding (7.4) and assists (5.2).

Hassell likes to go one-on-one with his opponents and when he burns them he just laughs.

When I get the best of somebody, I’ll just say, You just let somebody from little ol’ Austin Peay school you,’ Hassell said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. That’s my favorite part.

After three games this season, Hassell is averaging 23.3 points, 6.5 boards and 3.8 assists. Also putting up big numbers for the Governors is Nick Stapleton (16.3 points) and Matt Jakeway (12 points).

The Austin Peay game begins a busy week for Tennessee when they host UNC-Asheville on Thursday and travel to West Virginia for a Saturday matchup in Morgantown.