After losing a close contest to fifth-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, the Tennessee Volunteers will face Furman on Wednesday night in hopes of getting back into the win column.
Tennessee has played one of the toughest schedules in the country and has fared quite well against the competition.
At this point in the season, the Volunteers are (7-2) and have several quality wins under their belt.
Looking to get back on track tomorrow night ??
PREVIEW » https://t.co/yiZGtEe9PG pic.twitter.com/uUQ1FaSECo
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) December 19, 2017
Furman comes into the game looking for their sixth consecutive win after coming out on the good side of their last five contests.
The Paladins will look to carry the momentum from their win over a solid UNC Wilmington side into Knoxville to challenge the Vols.
Players to Watch
Grant Williams (Tennessee)
Williams has once again been a force for Tennessee this season.
The 6’7 sophomore’s inside presence on both offense and defense has made a major impact for Rick Barnes’ team.
After having another stellar performance on Sunday against North Carolina, Williams will look to impose himself in the paint against Furman.
If Williams gets anywhere near his averages of 16 points per game and seven rebounds per game, the Volunteers should be just fine in this game.
Devin Sibley (Furman)
Devin Sibley leads the way for the Paladins in averaging 16 points per game.
The 6’2 senior will look to impress in front of familiar faces on Wednesday evening as he will be making an appearance in his hometown of Knoxville.
On Sunday, Sibley led Furman by posting 24 points and was one of four double-digit scorers against UNC Wilmington.
If Furman is going to win in Knoxville, Sibley will need to lead the way.
How Tennessee Can Win
The Volunteers can win a lot of games with their defensive play; however, we’ll speak on their offense in this scenario.
In the last 10 minutes of the North Carolina game, Tennessee struggled mightily from the floor. Had the Vols been able to execute on the offensive end late in the game, they likely would have pulled out the victory.
After having so many issues during the latter portion of the game, look for Barnes to have his team ready to go offensively.
If the Volunteers impose their will with a consistent 40 minutes of quality offensive play, Furman should not be able to hang around.
How Furman Can Win
For Furman to have a chance against Tennessee, the Paladins will need to get exceptional guard play.
The Paladin guards, primarily Sibley, will need to penetrate the Volunteer defense and look for open shooters on the perimeter. When Furman has success shooting the three, the team has success all over the floor.
The Paladins will also need tough defensive play to keep the Tennessee offense from getting rolling on all cylinders.
The bigs will need to contain the likes of Williams and Admiral Schofield while the guards will find it necessary to stop Jordan Bowden and Jordan Bone if the Paladins are to have a chance.
Furman matches up with Tennessee well from a lineup perspective; however, the raw athleticism of the Volunteers may prove too much in this one.