TENNESSEE
VOLUNTEERS
Coach: Bruce Pearl | Record: 21-7
Overview:
Bruce Pearl changed the attitude of the team and
injected some excitement into the community with a
more high-energy style of basketball. An impressive
early-season road win at Texas was followed by a
loss to a struggling Oklahoma State team. At time
the Vols looked like a Final Four candidate, while
at other times they looked like an early round exit.
Still, it was quite an accomplishment in winning the
SEC East Division.
Potential Difference Maker: Chris Lofton will
step up and nail a three, and he does so at a clip
that puts him among the leaders nationally (fifth
with 3.8 a game). His production helps Tennessee
shoot at a nearly 40% clip as a team from behind the
arc, which led the conference.
On Offense: They will take every opportunity
to run and are truly at their best in transition. In
the halfcourt they will run a flex and screen on the
baseline to get open looks for their shooters.
On Defense: They will throw 1-2-1-1 full
court press at you and drop back into 2-2-1 in the
halfcourt. They like to use their defense to create
offense
Strength: Confidence. They have a new
attitude after a few years of mild success. Pearl
has convinced them that they can beat anyone. On the
floor their ability to shoot means they are never
out of a game.
Weakness: They are very average in the
halfcourt. Lofton isn’t really quick so he can be a
liability on the defensive end. For a team that
likes to play fast, they are not very deep.
Key to Success: They need to create
turnovers. They depend on getting points from their
press. They do need Lofton to score, but he doesn’t
have to put up huge numbers if they are getting
points from their defensive pressure.
How to Beat Them: First and foremost handle
their press. Much of what they do is predicated on
their press. If you can handle that press you can
control tempo. You want to make it a halfcourt
affair.
