First, Tennessee is hard to watch. I’ve tried to watch them casually throughout the year and they hard on the eyes. They’re probably a great looking team coming off the bus, but they aren’t the most skilled. However, they play hard, making it difficult on you at both ends.
When we have the ball, they won’t put heavy ball pressure on us, but we’ll feel their presence. They mix up their ball screen coverage. It will be important for the ball handler to keep their dribble, not only to avoid turnovers, but to also create scoring opportunities. I watched the game against Vanderbilt from last week. Vanderbilt is probably the most similar team to us that they’ve played. Vanderbilt is guard-driven, undersized, scrappy on defense with shooters that can spread the floor.
I feel I’ve been saying this on repeat but you want to attack their bigs, either through ball screens or weakside action. They get lost easily and are late on closeouts, so anything that’s popping Elmer or Byers out will be open. Gillespie isn’t the best helpside defender either, he can get lost as well. Their bigs, just like SMU’s, will crash hard into the lane to stop the driver, so shooters will be open. Skip passes will be open, but it will be hard to see through Tennessee’s bulk and height.
We have to dribble through contact. I see a lot of Skaljac and Suder in what Miles was able to do for Vandy. Keep your dribble and make them move their feet. They aren’t the quickest team on defense so after a point, they will put their hands on us and we can draw some fouls.
And if we can push the pace, let’s push the pace.
When we’re on defense, we don’t need to guard them hard outside the 3 point line. Vanderbilt trailed guys around ball screens. I don’t think we need to do that. Go under screens, then come up on them. Burg is the only guy I’d worry about behind the 3 point line unless Gillespie and Ament find a rhythm.
Tennessee runs some nice sets. If there’s a flash up to the high post, they’re going for the high low dump in. If there’s a high post entry, a perimeter player is coming around from the weak side to drive or dump it in the post. When they have wing pick and rolls, don’t trail the ballhandler. Either double hard and help from the weakside or drop completely and fight through the screen, which gives them time to make the 3, but Tennessee will likely turn that down.
Also, when they come around pick and rolls, they’re looking to throw the lob so that’s why we need to either go under or hedge hard, no in between on ball screens, especially on the wing.
Vandy didn’t double the post much, I think that’s an option given Tennessee’s below average shooting numbers.
So to sum up, we will get good looks on offense. If we have a typical shooting day, we’ll have a chance.
Then on defense, close out under control, give them 3s until they hit some. Once they drive, make them feel our presence, nothing easy. And I would play behind their posts. Estrella is the most skilled, but I’d still make him shoot over. I think Suder or Elmer can match up with Ament. I think those 2 or Skaljac can match up on Gillespie.
Gang rebound like last night, push the pace, and play with that right combination of freedom and desperation.
