Tennessee Volunteers
SEC (29-5, 15-3)
Tennessee spent much of this season ranked #1 in the nation. The Volunteers lost in November in an overtime thriller against Kansas. Even that defeat proved to many that Tennessee was a team to be reckoned with. And they solidified that status a couple weeks later when they knocked off Gonzaga.
Big Wins: 12/9 vs Gonzaga (76-73), 3/2 Kentucky (71-52), 3/5 Mississippi State (71-54)
Bad Losses: 2/16 at Kentucky (69-86), 2/23 at LSU (80-82), 3/9 at Auburn (80-84)
Coach: Rick Barnes
Why They Can Surprise:
Tennessee boasts five players who average double-digits in the scoring column. Forward Grant Williams leads the way with 19.0 points and 7.6 rebounds. He is also a superb defender, averaging 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Add in his 3.1 assists and there are not many players in the country as prolific as the 6-7 junior. Admiral Schofield is the main perimeter scorer, averaging 16.2 points and 6.1 rebounds. The 6-5 senior is the team’s most prolific three-point shooter and rarely has an off day. With point guard Jordan Bone and fellow guards Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden providing plenty of offense, Coach Rick Barnes can attack the opposition from anywhere on the floor.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Tennessee has all the tools to reach the Final Four. Their potential problem is on those rare occasions when they fall behind. The Volunteers can struggle to create instant offense. This is not a team that generates many steals and they are not a great outside shooting team. They do shoot well from beyond the arc, but Tennessee has not needed to take too many shots from outside. They can attack the basket with Williams and the guards effectively enough to beat good teams. But at some point they will need to make a few clutch three-pointers or get an easy bucket or two to help spark the offense.
Probable Starters:
Jordan Bone, Junior, Guard, 13.5 ppg, 6.0 apg
Lamonte Tuner, Junior, Guard, 10.6 ppg, 2.5 apg
Admiral Schofield, Senior, Guard, 16.2 ppg, 2.1 apg, 6.1 rpg
Grant Williams, Junior, Forward, 19.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 bpg
Kyle Alexander, Senior, Forward, 7.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Key Role Players:
John Fulkerson, Sophomore, Forward, 3.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Jordan Bowden, Junior, Guard, 10.5 ppg, 2.0 apg
Yves Pons, Sophomore, Guard, 1.9 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 82.3 (18th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.6 (74, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 49.9 (6, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.3 (12, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.8 (268, 11)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.2 (132, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 76.3 (18, 2)
Rebound Margin: 3.8 (59, 4)
Assists Per Game: 18.5 (4, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.2 (42, 1)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Wright State |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Loyola (IL) |
| 2014 | NCAA | Opening Round win over Iowa |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Massachusetts |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Mercer |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Michigan |
| 2013 | NIT | First Round loss to Mercer |
| 2012 | NIT | First Round win over Savannah State |
| 2012 | NIT | Second Round loss to Middle Tennessee |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Michigan |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over San Diego State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Ohio |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Ohio State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Michigan State |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Oklahoma |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over American University |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Butler |
| 2008 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Louisville |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Long Beach State |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Virginia |
| 2007 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Ohio State |
*all team stats through 3/10
