By Chris Marler and Jacob Hester
Tennessee Volunteers
Perimeter Defense
- The Vols boast the best perimeter defense in the nation, effectively limiting opponents’ 3 point shooting.
Offensive Rebounding
- The Vols excel in generating second-chance opportunities, averaging 11.5 offensive rebounds per game. This kind of gritty effort on the boards can disrupt Houston’s defensive rhythm.
Key Players
- Guard Zakai Zeigler leads the team with 13.1 points and 7.5 assists per game, while North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier contributes 17.9 points per game, shooting 41% from beyond the arc. Tennessee will also need another contributor to step up against Houston defense.
Offensive Consistency
- While defensively elite, Tennessee’s offense can be inconsistent, particularly against teams that apply high ball pressure, which of course the Coogs can.
Foul Trouble
- Given their physical style of play, the Volunteers risk tallying up fouls, which could impact their defensive effectiveness if key players are sidelined.
Houston Cougars
Elite Defense
- Houston leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 88.0 points per 100 possessions. Their aggressive ball pressure forces turnovers at a high rate, disrupting opponents’ offensive flow. Tennessee averages 9.7 turnovers per game (40th nationally).
3-Point Shooting
- Offensively, the Cougars are lethal from beyond the arc, shooting a nation’s best 39.8% from deep. Guards L.J. Cryer, Emmanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan each shoot over 40% from 3-point range, providing a potent perimeter threat.
Offensive Rebounding
- Despite a smaller lineup, (6’8” is their tallest starter) Houston ranks 11th nationally in offensive rebounding, securing 36.7% of their missed shots and creating additional scoring opportunities.
Mid Range Shooting
- The Coogs struggle with efficiency inside the arc, shooting just 48.5% on two-point attempts, ranking 281st nationally. This could be problematic against Tennessee’s strong interior defense.
Defensive Rebounding
- While effective on the offensive glass, Houston is average in defensive rebounding. Tennessee’s prowess in securing offensive rebounds could exploit this vulnerability.
Getting to the line
- Auburn’s opponents average 22.3 FT attempts per game which ranks 333rd in D1. They also allow 16.2 FT’s made per game which ranks in the bottom 20 in the country at 345th.
- Michigan State is Top 25 nationally in FT percentage (77.8 %) and FT’s made per game (17.5).
Stats & Trends
14: Houston has 14 Quad 1 Wins this season. It’s the second most in the country.
3: Houston has three Quad 1 losses which is tied for the fewest of any remaining team in the tournament along with Duke. All three of their Quad 1 losses were to teams that made the Elite 8.
0-2: Houston is 0-2 this season against SEC teams losing to both Alabama and Auburn.
28% : Michigan State is holding their opponents to just 28 percent from three which ranks No. 1 in the country.
.333 : Michigan State is 11-22 (.333) against the over this season. The 22 games that went under the total were the most of any school in the country.
11.7 : The under is 8-2 in Michigan State’s last ten games. In those eight games, not only did the under hit, they did so by an average of 11.7 points.
10-0: Tom Izzo is 10-0 vs SEC teams in the NCAA tournament.
5-2: Michigan State is 5-2 as an underdog this season.
69.9% : Tom Izzo has won 69.9 percent of his career games in March as a head coach.
