Tenn Truth
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 13: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers battles for a loose ball with Curtis Haywood II #13 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Thompson-Boling Arena on November 13, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 66-53. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 13: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers battles for a loose ball with Curtis Haywood II #13 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Thompson-Boling Arena on November 13, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 66-53. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

#1 – Continue the defensive pressure

The Tennessee Volunteers defense has been stout all season long, holding teams to just 53 points a game. During the Volunteers success last season, they prided themselves in a tough defense, and have continued that throughout their first three games this season.

The Volunteers held Lenior-Rhyne to just 41 points to open the season off, including just 11 points in the second half.

The defense has held opponents to under 30 percent shooting twice this season in both the Lenior-Rhyne game and Georgia Tech game. During the Lenior-Rhyne game, they held them to 20.9 percent shooting, as well as just 20 percent from the three-point line. During the Georgia Tech win, they held the Yellow Jackets to 27.6 percent from the field, while holding them to 15.8 percent from the three-point line.

As I mentioned earlier, they will have a tough task in the opening game against a high-powered Louisville offense. The Cardinals have been outstanding from the field, shooting 53.5 percent. If the Volunteers are able to have the defensive pressure they have done during their first three games, they should be able to force some pressure that the Cardinals haven’t faced so far this season.

If the Volunteers are able to get by Louisville, they will likely face an even tougher opponent in Kansas. Tennessee will lean on their tough defense during this tournament, and hopefully, it will end up paying off for them in the long run.

Home/Tennessee Volunteers