Tennessee Men’s Basketball 2019 NCAA Tournament Capsule

March 10, 2019 · CSM Staff
 

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