Tennessee Men's Basketball
Tennessee enters Friday’s first-round game against Oklahoma State as the worst 3-point shooting team in the NCAA men tournament, making 31.4 percent.
Oklahoma State, conversely, ranks 10th in the tournament field hitting 38.4 percent.
The Cowboys are 16-0 when shooting a better percentage than their opponents.
The Vols are 20-1 when they shoot better than their opponent (1-11 when out-shot); 9-1 when hitting 50-percent or better and 0-9 when hitting less than 40 percent.
Fouls And Free Throws: Oklahoma State averages more fouls (21.3) than all but one team in the tournament and has sent opponents to the line 787 times while shooting 787 itself.
The Vols are tied for 51st among NCAA tournament teams at the free throw line (67.4 percent) while Oklahoma State is seventh (74.3 percent).
The Cowboys have a short bench, with four players averaging 30 minutes or more per game. Oklahoma State had 27 foul disqualifications — 327th most out of 330 teams nationally —between eight players.
The Vols have just one player averaging more than 30 minutes per game (Tyler Smith) and had 10 foul disqualifications between four players.
The Cowboys are 15-1 when making more free throws than their opponent.
Defense: The Cowboys rank tied for third among NCAA tourney teams with 81.1 points-per-game and are 13-3 when scoring 80 points or more.
The Vols, 12th with 78.5 points per game, are 1-6 when their opponent scores 80 points or more.
Oklahoma State ranks 20th among tournament teams in assist/turnover ratio and is just 5-6 when committing the same amount or more turnovers than its opponent.
UT’s turnovers aren’t as much of a factor; The Vols, oddly, are 9-1 when committing more turnovers than their opponent.
Star Wars: Oklahoma State’s Byron Eaton had six field goals or less in all 11 of the Cowboys’ losses and failed to shoot better than 50-percent in eight of those losses.
Tyler Smith had six field goals or less and shot under 50-percent in 10 of the Vols’ 12 losses.
Splitting Seed: No. 9 seeds are 53-45 in first-round action against No. 8 seeds since the NCAA tournament field expanded to 64 (now 65) teams.
The 8-9 seeds split Thursday, with No. 8 seed LSU beating No. 9 seed Butler, and No. 9 seed Texas A&M defeating No. 8 seed BYU.
The Line: Tennessee is a 2-point favorite as determined by Las Vegas oddsmakers.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 36
RJ_Vol writes:
Good info!
smashmouth98 writes:
Let's get it done Big Orange. (That is UT orange) Beat those Cowboys!!!!
shoalcreekvol writes:
One of my KY-fan friends is whining that Pitino, Tubby and even TX A&M are all playing in the tournament, but his Kitties are not. He is ready for Billy Gilly to walk the plank (probably while intoxicated).
Stokes44yrs writes:
Hey let's turn it over baby!!! 9 and 1? Let's make it 10-1 when higher in turnovers.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
hope the oddsmakers are correct.
Go4Two writes:
KY sent Tubby packing they were tired of losing in the sweet 16 plus it had been about 10 years since they won the National title. Guess that coaching change did work out so hot Tubby's in the big show and the kittie's are in the NIT
golfballs03 writes:
Go Vols!!!
ccantrell#227456 writes:
I heard the Kentucky faithful aren't watching NCAA games this year. They are required to take a kNITing course.
givehim6 writes:
I still say UT will win because UT plays there best ball after a loss. Remember there 3 point shooting in the UF game? You can do it aging. GO VOLS!
invisiblekid writes:
Agreed, Chism, Smith and the rest of the guys have to have big games down low.
I really don't like the match up with OKST's guards though. Anderson, Muonelo, and Harris are all very good and all bring a little something different to the table.
CoverOrange writes:
We lost, badly, to Kentucky after losing, badly, to Ole Miss.
If the Cowboys start fouling a lot, I hope the Vols don't try to man up and match them.
UTandETSUfan writes:
I respectfully disagree to a degree. I believe if our guards play well, we'll match up good. 6'3 to 5'10; 6'7 to 5'11 and 6'7 to 6'5, I really like our length against them... but we have seen how well that has played out a few times before. Go Vols
mdvol writes:
I'm more worried about State than I am Pitt. Anytime we play against good guards we struggle. The Okey trio look quick off the dribble while Maze and Hopson need more defensive intesity than I have seen all season. If JP can slip inside for some offensive boards then we have a chance. But if Tyler has a game like Miss State we are done.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Ive got the RUM
Ironcity writes:
That turnover figure shows that when UT plays free and easy, we make a lot of mistakes but we win. We need to play loose and attack. For Ok St to foul. I feel worse today about the game then I did Monday but at the end of the day I think it comes down to if our guys can play with confidence.
gohawks1 writes:
Odds on Monday, March 16, according to the USA Today:
Tennessee - 75:1
Oklahoma St. - 85:1
bmaples writes:
We need to press, press, press, run the floor, and wear out their short bench.
Bruce in Louisville
murrayvol writes:
Bruce, you may be confusing the Cards with the Vols. This team can't press....at least not effectively. It will be particularly difficult vs OSU guards.
They can run the floor and wear out a short bench but (inexplicably) chose not to do that vs a tired MSU in the SECT. We'll know tomorrow.
ZR writes:
Fulmer would choke this if it was a boll game
steelersman42 writes:
GO VOLS!!!
steelersman42 writes:
Enough Fulmer-hating. Where's the respect for a man who gave more than 30 years pf his life to the school, donated a bunch of money, and basically gave his all for the good of the team and the school? not to mention he won a national championship and two SEC championships. I understand it's been a while since then, but please show respect for someone who truly loves the University of Tennessee and the Vols. He's a true lover of the school, and a great coach.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
I got it, I got it, I get it!!!
rdgshackelford writes:
do you hear that jp, chism, smith, maze, etc. you are terrible at shooting the three so stop trying to rely on it
sstarnes#216340 writes:
Here's another thought for the team......STOP FRIGGING with your shorts guys! Wear shorts that fit you Chism...you can't play defense and hold your shorts up at the same time. During the Miss. St giveaway 3 of the tenn players on the floor at any given time where friggin with their shorts............COME ON GUYS!!
VolJunkie writes:
I agree with UT/ETSU Fan that our size will bother them, I don't think their guards are used to playing against 6' 5", 6' 7" defenders. As it has been the case all year, I think we will have some challenges staying with them on the dribble penetration, we need our inside guys to play a smart, helping defense. Everyone needs to be looking to rebound and running against OSU as it will lead to stamina and foul trouble.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
BTW, major props to VCU out of the CAA ... thought they were going to beat UCLA and go on a George Mason run ... oh, well, at least I got WKU right!
Go Vols!
belayvol writes:
Hope they learn the correct way. Knit one, Bruce Pearl two times better than the Mildcats.
bkgunter writes:
This is a statistical report---not much of a scouting report.
Bigger_Al writes:
The data in this article has convinced me that we are going to lose.
o They foul more than anyone; we can't make free throws.
o They score like crazy; we lose when we give up 80.
o They are going to outscore us from 3-ville.
Wish I saw this before I did my bracket. I figured we'd come out fresh and play like we did in our late-season wins...
Homermoosevols writes:
I live in Dayton, O-HI-O. Can't wait for this game. Less than 2 hours until tip off. These two teams know each other fairly well. Should be a good game with orange coming out on top.
Snarlz writes:
We can win today, but not if we play like we did against miss. st. If we can shoot good and our leaders Tyler and Wayne play good i think we can pull this off. Also, please Prince, don't shoot the ball.
smokyredbone writes:
I usually win when I shoot better than my opponant also!!!! What are the qualifications to write for this rag? Most stories are reworks or stolen from other papers!!
volinator272 writes:
Respectfully I believe you should take Chism's name out of that list. If i remember correctly he has saved us more than once by makin 3's when they really mattered late in the game.
Stokes44yrs writes:
How many put back layups have we missed?!!! should be ahead by 10. Ohter than that pretty evenly matched so far. Keep going in side and start hitting those putbacks!!!
Stokes44yrs writes:
Give Hopson the BALL!!!!
APPLEJAX555 writes:
oh well...
Vol_Jokes writes:
He haw.......
Season over......... done.
One and out. Didn't make it to your national championship (sweet 16) this season.
Threee SEC teams in and 2 never won a game. The sole survivor was LSU who managed to win by 4 over mighty Butler. Last year 6 in and 4 never won a game.
Whew.. i'm sure glad Memphis isn't in that tough SEC conference...we'd just lose and lose. We're in that easy conference. It's a miracle we ever win in the NCAA due to only playing those easy teams. Tigers...advance to the second round. Vols eliminated. What else is new.
Tigers, longest win streak in the country. Two elite 8's and a championship game in recent years. Vols........ nothing.
Always lost the close games and always got beat on national tv. Man I wish we were in the SEC. Those teams are awesome.
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