Tennessee will open up its trip to the Bahamas against No. 18 Purdue in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The event features a field of quality teams including three ranked teams in Purdue, Villanova, and Arizona.
The Vols enter the tournament with a 2-0 record after defeating Presbyterian and High Point.
Tennessee has averaged a solid 86 points per game to this point while giving up a mere 53 points per game.
Purdue comes in undefeated as well with a 4-0 record, highlighted by an impressive 86-71 win on the road at Marquette.
The Boilermakers come in averaging a whopping 102 points per game, which makes them the fourth most potent offense in the country.
The next tournament matchup for both teams will be determined by the result of the Villanova vs. Western Kentucky contest.
Players to Watch
Admiral Schofield (Tennessee)
Despite only playing 20 minutes during each contest, Schofield has been on fire through his first two games of the 2017-18 season.
The 6-5 junior forward has averaged 18 points per game on 63 percent field goal shooting.
Schofield has had a great shooting start to the season by averaging 57 percent from three-point range and 89 percent from the free-throw line.
If Tennessee is going to challenge Purdue, then Schofield will need to keep up the hot shooting and continue his consistent contribution to the Volunteer offense.
Dakota Mathias (Purdue)
We talked about Schofield’s shooting ability, but Mathias may be an even better shooter.
Purdue, in its most recent game against Fairfield, set a school record with 19 3-pointers in the game. That performance was led by Mathias who hit all six attempts from downtown.
During Mathias’ career at Purdue, the Boilermakers have a record of 24-5 when he hits double figures in scoring.
Mathias can and will be a difference maker in this game if the Volunteers do not find a way of stopping him early on.
How Tennessee Can Win
Tennessee’s chances of winning this contest hinge largely on their ability to defend, especially on the perimeter.
The Boilermakers have 5 players averaging double figures and shooting better than 40 percent from three.
The Volunteers will need to make a point of limiting that perimeter offense that has propelled Purdue to victory in each of its four contests so far this season.
Rick Barnes’ team will also need to make sure that all five Purdue playmakers are not playing at a high level simultaneously.
If Tennessee can limit at least one or two of Purdue’s go-to-guys on offense, it should give the Vols a chance to establish themselves in the game.
How Purdue Can Win
There has been a common theme in Purdue’s victories this season: shooting.
If Purdue continues to shoot the ball at the same level as in its first four contests, Tennessee will have a major problem to deal with.
The Boilermakers will not only want to shoot the ball well; however, they will also want to be sure to establish a presence in the paint through Carsen Edwards and Isaac Haas.
Excellent 3-point shooting combined with stellar post play should be enough to outdo the Volunteers.
Game Details
Date: November 22
Time: 12 PM EST
TV: ESPN2
Who wins this Battle 4 Atlantis game?
- Purdue (83%, 10 Votes)
- Tennessee (17%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 12
Loading ...