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Taking part in three video games at house in opposition to lesser-tier foes didn’t end in Tennessee basketball selecting up any dangerous habits, and neither did taking part in with out Jonas Aidoo and Josiah-Jordan James on Sunday. The Vols have been nonetheless capable of rating a win over a ranked opponent at a impartial website for the second time this yr.
UT, ranked No. 7 in each polls, beat the Maryland Terrapins, ranked No. 13 in each polls, on the Basketball Corridor of Fame Invitational at Barclays Heart in Brooklyn. Rick Barnes’ group jumped out to a 34-13 lead in New York Metropolis, N.Y., after which held off a livid comeback by UMD within the second half. UT held on to win 56-53 after Jahmir Younger missed a three-pointer on the finish.
Rocky High now improves to 9-1 on the yr and can subsequent face the Arizona Wildcats on the street in what will probably be a prime 10 matchup Saturday. Maryland falls to 8-2, having misplaced its second straight, and can subsequent host the UCLA Bruins in a prime 25 matchup Wednesday. Listed here are three issues we realized from Tennessee basketball’s victory.
1. Three-point taking pictures made the distinction, however taking pictures elsewhere saved it shut.
If you wish to understand how the Vols held onto this recreation, they shot 7-of-21 from the three-point line whereas Maryland was an abysmal 2-of-24. A part of that abysmal taking pictures was as a result of protection the Vols performed, particularly on the perimeter regardless of no James. Santiago Vescovi had three steals. Offensively, Zakai Zeigler was 2-of-5 from three with 12 factors.
Alternatively, the Vols have been terrible contained in the paint and from the free throw line. They have been 11-of-21 from the stripe, with Jahmai Mashack lacking all three makes an attempt and Zeigler lacking his solely try, and 12-of-45 on two-pointers. UMD was 17-of-22 on free throws, and that’s what saved them on this recreation late.
2. Rebounding was an enormous deal.
Within the submit, Julian Phillips was 1-of-10, and Olivier Nkamhoua was 3-of-13, which was a part of the poor taking pictures. Nonetheless, they did what they wanted to do on the glass. Phillips got here away with 10 rebounds, and Nkamhoua got here away with 9. Tobe Awaka had eight off the bench, Vescovi had seven, and Uros Plavsic added 5.
As a group, Tennessee basketball outrebouded the Terps 48-40. That won’t seem to be a lot, however in a detailed recreation like this through which they gained the three-point battle however misplaced the free-throw battle, it was an enormous distinction. UT had 21 offensive boards to Maryland’s eight. Phillips, Nkamhoua and Awaka all had 5 every.
3. Protection misplaced its swagger within the second half.
Everyone knew this may be a defensive recreation given the make-up of each groups, and that’s precisely what it was. Nonetheless, whereas Maryland’s protection was roughly the identical and UT’s offense solely struggled from the stripe, issues modified for the Vols.
Kevin Willard is sensible at halftime changes, and he had the Terps taking pictures 50 p.c from the sector within the second half regardless of their three-point woes. This nearly value Tennessee basketball, they usually needed to maintain on to win. UMD dominated within the paint within the second half, and that’s one thing the Vols do want to repair.
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