Use whatever metaphor you want, Tennessee (16-10, 7-5) really needs to win its game tonight against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (17-10, 7-5). The Vols are reeling after back to back losses, including an embarrassment at the hands of rival Kentucky this past weekend. Facing four guards and the nation's best shot blocker in a must-win game is a downright frightening scenario for Tennessee fans.
Observations from the stats
Tennessee's field goal percentage defense is atrocious. What causes that? Who knows? Well, perhaps we can rebound against them, although with all of those guards hitting eight three-pointers per game, you know they're taking and missing a bunch more of them and that those rebounds tend to go conveniently right over the heads of our defenders packed down low. Scotty Hopson, Bobby Maze, Josh Tabb, stay between the shooter and the basket, por favor.
Bulldog players to watch
Jarvis Varnado is currently averaging five blocks per game. Our guys down low will need to mix up interior passing, pump fakes, slams, and quick moves to keep him off balance.
Other Stuff
KenPom's prediction: Tennessee wins 79-70, with an 80% chance of winning. We keep surprising Pomeroy, though, so you know.
The line ups
| Tennessee | Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| C | 4 Wayne Chism | 6-9 |
242 |
Jr. |
13.1
|
8.4 |
1.3 |
| F | 1 Tyler Smith | 6-7 |
215 |
Jr. |
17.2 |
5.7 |
3.4 |
| G | 30 J.P. Prince | 6-7 |
205 |
Jr. |
9.7 |
4.0 |
3.1 |
| G | 32 Scotty Hopson | 6-7 |
185 |
Fr. |
9.1 |
2.3 |
1.1 |
| G | 3 Bobby Maze | 6-2 |
185 |
Jr. |
8.4 |
2.4 |
3.3 |
| Mississippi State | Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
PPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
|
| C | 32 Jarvis Varnado | 6-9 |
210 |
Jr. |
13.3 |
9.3 |
0.9 |
| G | 25 Phil Turner | 6-3 |
170 |
So. |
8.6 |
5.0 |
1.6 |
| G | 3 Dee Bost | 6-2 |
170 |
Fr. |
11.3 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
| G | 22 Barry Stewart | 6-3 |
170 |
Jr. |
11.6 |
3.9 |
1.8 |
| G | 2 Ravern Johnson | 6-7 |
175 |
So. |
12.4
|
3.5 |
1.3 |
The stats
KEY STATS COMPARISON |
 |
 |
||
| Category | Rank |
Actual |
Rank |
Actual |
| Scoring Offense | 27 |
78.3 |
57 |
75.2 |
| Scoring Defense | 284 |
72.5 |
196 |
68.7 |
| Scoring Margin | 79 |
5.8 |
69 |
6.6 |
| Field-Goal Percentage | 98 |
45.2 |
183 |
43.5 |
| Field-Goal Percentage Defense | 230 |
44.3 |
20 |
39.0 |
| Three-Point Field Goals Per Game | 140 |
6.5 |
20 |
8.4 |
| Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage | 268 |
30.6 |
75 |
36.7 |
| Three Pt FG Defense | 122 |
33.3 |
203 |
34.7 |
| Free-Throw Percentage | 197 |
67.9 |
103 |
70.8 |
| Rebound Margin | 68 |
3.3 |
224 |
-1.0 |
| Assists Per Game | 22 |
16.1 |
188 |
12.8 |
| Assist Turnover Ratio | 32 |
1.18 |
209 |
0.88 |
| Blocked Shots Per Game | 120 |
3.6 |
1 |
8.2 |
| Steals Per Game | 139 |
7.0 |
80 |
7.6 |
| Turnovers Per Game | 143 |
13.6 |
210 |
14.4 |
| Turnover Margin | 74 |
1.8 |
166 |
0.0 |
| Personal Fouls Per Game | 241 |
19.4 |
59 |
16.8 |
| PLAYERS TO WATCH | |
|
||||
| Category | Player | Rank | Actual | Player | Rank | Actual |
| Points PG | Tyler Smith | 100
|
17.2
|
|||
| FG% | Jarvis Varnado | 41 | 55.8 | |||
| 3-Point FG PG | ||||||
| 3-Point FG% | ||||||
| FT % | ||||||
| Rebounds PG | Wayne Chism | 53
|
8.4
|
Jarvis Varnado | 28 | 9.3 |
| Assists PG | ||||||
| Blocks PG | Jarvis Varnado | 1 | 5.0 | |||
| Steals PG | ||||||
| Assist-TO Ratio |
Bobby Maze | 66
|
2.0
|
|||