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Tennessee Basketball: 3 Keys for the NIT Tip-Off

By Stetson Marlin

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 31: Zach Kent #33, Brad Woodson #12, Admiral Schofield #5, and D.J. Burns #32 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the National Anthem before the game between the Tusculum Pioneers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on October 31, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 31: Zach Kent #33, Brad Woodson #12, Admiral Schofield #5, and D.J. Burns #32 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the National Anthem before the game between the Tusculum Pioneers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on October 31, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 31: Zach Kent #33, Brad Woodson #12, Admiral Schofield #5, and D.J. Burns #32 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the National Anthem before the game between the Tusculum Pioneers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on October 31, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 31: Zach Kent #33, Brad Woodson #12, Admiral Schofield #5, and D.J. Burns #32 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the National Anthem before the game between the Tusculum Pioneers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on October 31, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

The Tennessee basketball team heads to Brooklyn this week, as one of four teams to participate in the NIT Season Tip-Off. Here are 3 keys for the Tip-Off.

The Tennessee Volunteers are one of four teams to take part in this week’s NIT Season Tip-Off. The Volunteers start the tournament off on Wednesday when they face off against the Louisville Cardinals. On the other side of the bracket, the No. 2 ranked Kansas Jayhawks play the Marquette Golden Eagles. The winner of each matchup will face off in the championship game on Friday night.

The Volunteers, Jayhawks, and Cardinals all head into this tournament with a 3-0 record, while the Golden Eagles are 3-1 on the year with a lone 96-73 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers.

Many people throughout the country are looking forward to a Kansas-Tennessee matchup, but both teams have to get through their first opponent.

For the Volunteers, they have a very tough matchup on Wednesday night. Despite the turmoil that has gone on throughout the Louisville program over the last few years, they still have a very good team. After replacing Rick Pitino, the Cardinals hired Chris Mack, who had coached at Xavier for the last nine seasons.

The Volunteers defense has been tough this season but will have their toughest task to date, looking to stop a Louisville offense that has averaged 91.7 points a game. The Cardinals even posted 104 during their blowout win against Southern.

Joseph Nwora has been a key player for the Louisville Cardinals through their first three games, averaging 18 points a game, as well as leading the team with 6.3 rebounds a game.

This tournament will be key in determining the type of team that Tennessee is early in the season. Here are three key things for the Volunteers to focus on during this week’s NIT Season Tip-Off.

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