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Regardless of a sluggish begin offensively, Wednesday night time’s matchup between Tennessee basketball and the McNeese State Cowboys was by no means actually unsure. The Vols gained the sport 76-40 of their first of three straight matchups towards lower-level foes at residence over the following week.
Rick Barnes’ group, ranked No. 13 in each polls, by no means trailed. They methodically pulled away for a 30-14 lead at halftime after which exploded within the second half, happening a 10-0 run throughout the first three and a half minutes. All through the second half, they continued to dominate and draw back.
With the win, the Vols enhance to 6-1 and are on a five-game successful streak with a go to from the Alcorn State Braves on Sunday subsequent up on their schedule. McNeese State falls to 2-6 and can subsequent host the Ecclesia School Royals Monday. Listed here are three takeaways from Tennessee basketball’s dominating win.
1. Protection remained dominant, significantly down low.
Utilizing a zone protection for many of the recreation, the Vols’ offense was sluggish at occasions, significantly early. They solely had 11 factors throughout the first 10 minutes. Nonetheless, they’d solely allowed 4. Key all through the sport was that they compelled 24 turnovers and held McNeese State to 16-of-56 from the sector and 2-of-17 from three.
Rocky Prime had 10 steals and eight blocks. Down low, Jonas Aidoo grew to become a star, as he had 5 blocks. Julian Phillips had two, and Santiago Vescovi had one. Phillips, Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler all had two steals every. 5 completely different gamers additionally had at the least 5 rebounds. Merely put, the Vols have been dominant off the ball, primarily within the paint.
2. Free throw taking pictures was a problem.
Taking pictures was stable, as Tennessee basketball was 11-of-29 from three. Zeigler was 2-of-4 with seven factors, B.J. Edwards hit his solely try, and Jahmai Mashack and Julian Phillips have been 1-of-2 to assist the averages. Santiago Vescovi was the primary three-point shooter, however he was solely 4-of-12. Tyreke Key was solely 2-of-6.
Nonetheless, free throws have been a distinct story. The Vols have been 19-of-34 from the stripe. They drew plenty of fouls attributable to McNeese State’s zone however couldn’t money in. Uros Plavsic was 2-of-5, Phillips was 5-of-8, and Key was 4-of-7. No person else was alarming with their taking pictures, however these three ought to have all at the least made another.
3. Ball motion excellent.
Poor free throw taking pictures and common taking pictures by the Vols’ sharpshooters was overcome by nice ball motion. UT had 21 assists to simply 11 turnovers towards that zone. This is the reason Vescovi was capable of prepared the ground with 16 factors and Phillips had 12 regardless of neither taking pictures effectively. It’s additionally why Olivier Nkamhoua had 11 factors and Key had 10.
Unselfishness went throughout the board, as Phillips, who did all of it on this one, led the way in which with 4 assists. Plavsic, Vescovi, Zeigler and Mashack every had three. Tennessee basketball nearly had as many steals because it had turnovers, and this unit deserves lots of credit score for that.
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