Opponent: #6 tennessee (21-5, 8-5)
Time: 11:00am
Date: February 22
Location: The Luxurious Reed
TV: ESPN
Game Quadrant: Quad 1
Opponent NET: 5
Opponent KenPom: 5
Opponent Offensive / Defensive Rating: 29/1
Spread: Texas A&M -1.5
Stats: https://12thman.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
A new day has arrived. Hopefully our minds have move passed whatever Tuesday night was. Thankfully after our loss disappointing loss, we won 6 straight and moved to a 2 seed in the committee's eyes. Every game is magnified now that we're in the final stretch of conference games. Only 5 remain. 3 against top 5 teams. If we want to make a statement, we have to do it now.
In 11 hours, the Volunteers will walk into a Reed Arena that is in all black and hopefully ready to go. They'll face a top defense that will make 2 20 minute halves hell. However, this will be the best defense we may play all year. They are ranked first in the nation in efficient according Kenpom and first in the conference only allowing 60 ppg, were ranked 2nd. I could say this will be the defensive battle of the century, but for all we know this game will be high scoring and two teams throwing punches back and forth.
We're both going to get after it physically. Tennessee is a good rebounder and they have a strong front court led by #34 Frank Opara and #7 Igor Milicic, who average who are 6'11 and 6'10 and solid rebounders. They love to run pick and rolls and off ball screens and kick outs from these big men to their shooters outside. They have an elite group of guards. They are led by their "what feels like 30 year old "facilitator #5 Zakai Zeigler standing at 5'9 who leads the league with almost 8 assists a game. Which is nearly 2 more than second place. He also averages over 13 a game, but the other half of their star power backcourt is Chaz Lanier who averages over 17 a game while shooting over 40% from 3. This offense can beat you both ways, but they'll look to find their shot outside once we commit to the paint. So a tale of their season has been their success or lack thereof from deep. We need to contest their shots or force them deep into the shot clock. This all starts with pressure on Zeigler, we must get to him and try to keep him off rhythm.
Defensively, we know they're elite. They have one of the leagues top shot blockers in Opara, although he's questionable for the game. Zeigler is 3rd in the league in steals with 2 a game and they have another guard at 1.7 steals. They actually rank higher than us in opponent rebounding. So it's going to be a tough matchup for us. They are also coming off a bye on Tuesday so they will be rested. We need to take care of the ball and try to make some baskets. They have enough on offense to maintain a lead if we go on a scoring drought. However, one big key will be the free throw line. They only play about 6 guys premium minutes and 1 or 2 more around 10 minutes or less. if we can keep them in foul trouble, we can really affect their game plan and rhythm. Hopefully we up our intensity and physicality so depth becomes a factor.
I've always liked our team in am games for some reason. It's another tough test today and if you think you're upset about Tuesday's game, no one's more upset than our guys! They'll come out with purpose and with tenacity! They want this win and it'll be a huge one for our resume and seeding purposes. It'll be primetime on ESPN, the committee, and every college basketball fan will be tuning in! Let's go take down the Volunteers and stay top 4 in the conference and get back our 2 seed! BTHO tennessee
Time: 11:00am
Date: February 22
Location: The Luxurious Reed
TV: ESPN
Game Quadrant: Quad 1
Opponent NET: 5
Opponent KenPom: 5
Opponent Offensive / Defensive Rating: 29/1
Spread: Texas A&M -1.5
Stats: https://12thman.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
A new day has arrived. Hopefully our minds have move passed whatever Tuesday night was. Thankfully after our loss disappointing loss, we won 6 straight and moved to a 2 seed in the committee's eyes. Every game is magnified now that we're in the final stretch of conference games. Only 5 remain. 3 against top 5 teams. If we want to make a statement, we have to do it now.
In 11 hours, the Volunteers will walk into a Reed Arena that is in all black and hopefully ready to go. They'll face a top defense that will make 2 20 minute halves hell. However, this will be the best defense we may play all year. They are ranked first in the nation in efficient according Kenpom and first in the conference only allowing 60 ppg, were ranked 2nd. I could say this will be the defensive battle of the century, but for all we know this game will be high scoring and two teams throwing punches back and forth.
We're both going to get after it physically. Tennessee is a good rebounder and they have a strong front court led by #34 Frank Opara and #7 Igor Milicic, who average who are 6'11 and 6'10 and solid rebounders. They love to run pick and rolls and off ball screens and kick outs from these big men to their shooters outside. They have an elite group of guards. They are led by their "what feels like 30 year old "facilitator #5 Zakai Zeigler standing at 5'9 who leads the league with almost 8 assists a game. Which is nearly 2 more than second place. He also averages over 13 a game, but the other half of their star power backcourt is Chaz Lanier who averages over 17 a game while shooting over 40% from 3. This offense can beat you both ways, but they'll look to find their shot outside once we commit to the paint. So a tale of their season has been their success or lack thereof from deep. We need to contest their shots or force them deep into the shot clock. This all starts with pressure on Zeigler, we must get to him and try to keep him off rhythm.
Defensively, we know they're elite. They have one of the leagues top shot blockers in Opara, although he's questionable for the game. Zeigler is 3rd in the league in steals with 2 a game and they have another guard at 1.7 steals. They actually rank higher than us in opponent rebounding. So it's going to be a tough matchup for us. They are also coming off a bye on Tuesday so they will be rested. We need to take care of the ball and try to make some baskets. They have enough on offense to maintain a lead if we go on a scoring drought. However, one big key will be the free throw line. They only play about 6 guys premium minutes and 1 or 2 more around 10 minutes or less. if we can keep them in foul trouble, we can really affect their game plan and rhythm. Hopefully we up our intensity and physicality so depth becomes a factor.
I've always liked our team in am games for some reason. It's another tough test today and if you think you're upset about Tuesday's game, no one's more upset than our guys! They'll come out with purpose and with tenacity! They want this win and it'll be a huge one for our resume and seeding purposes. It'll be primetime on ESPN, the committee, and every college basketball fan will be tuning in! Let's go take down the Volunteers and stay top 4 in the conference and get back our 2 seed! BTHO tennessee
