Michigan seeks to break trend against 3 seed Tennessee

Michigan is now 18-14 on the season. The Wolverines showed up in Indianapolis, minus their point guard leader DeVante Jones. Despite being the favorite, an 11 seeded Michigan found themselves down 15 points early against 6 seeded Colorado State. Closing the half on a 16-8 run allowed Michigan to be in better standing. Michigan’s 2nd half defense was one of the best performances they have put together all season long. The defense held Colorado State to 27 points in the 2nd half, and their best players to an inefficient outing. Michigan won and moved on to the Round of 64, but have not won or lost two games in a row since the beginning of February. They have been alternating wins and losses for 11 straight games.

Tennessee comes in 27-7 on the season, defeating 14 seed Longwood by 32 points. Longwood was able to battle tough in the first ten minutes, only down by three points. Tennessee turned up the pressure and level of play, closing the half on a +22 run. The Volunteers coasted to the end of the game, showcasing one of the better defenses in the country. They enter the Round of 32 game against Michigan on an eight game winning streak. Tennessee has only lost to Top 6 seeded NCAA tournament teams during the regular season:

• Villanova (NCAA Tournament 2 Seed)
• Texas Tech (NCAA Tournament 3 Seed)
• Alabama (NCAA Tournament 6 Seed)
• LSU (NCAA Tournament 6 Seed)
• Kentucky (NCAA Tournament 2 Seed)
• Texas (NCAA Tournament 6 Seed)
• Arkansas (NCAA Tournament 4 Seed)

Michigan vs Tennessee Statistical Overview

Team Defensive Efficiency: Tennessee’s defense allows 0.796 points per possession (PPP), ranking 11th in the country.

Pick & Roll Defense: Tennessee allows 0.631 PPP when guarding the ballhandler on pick and roll concepts ranking 25th in the country.

Post-up Defense: When guarding the post, Tennessee allows 0.713 PPP which ranks 27th in the country.

Man to Man Defense: Tennessee plays man defense 94% of the time. They allow 0.757 PPP which ranks 3rd nationally.

Team Offensive Efficiency: Tennessee scores 0.911 PPP on offense, ranking 154th in the country.

Spot-up Shooting: Tennessee is ranked 48th in spot up shooting, scoring 1.006 PPP.

Transition Offense: In transition, Tennessee scores 1.014 PPP. This ranks 185th in the country.

Off-ball Screens: Tennessee scores 0.796 PPP which ranks 272nd nationally.

Tennessee Backcourt Personnel

#1 Kennedy Chandler: Chandler is a 6’0″ 175 pound freshman guard out of Memphis. He is averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.2 assists on 46.4% shooting from the floor and 38.4% from 3pt range. Chandler has been the leader and general of the Tennessee team. He picks his spots and controls the pace. Michigan’s guards have to locate him in transition and slow him down.

#25 Santiago Vescovi: Vescovi is a 6’3″ 191 pound guard out of Uruguay. He is averaging 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals on 41.3% shooting from the floor and 40.7% from the 3pt line. Vescovi wants to come in and shoot the 3pt shot. Around 72.5% of his shots come from long range, shooting 7.3 attempts per game. He ranks 49th in the country in 3pt attempts per game. Vescovi will shoot from distance in any situation, whether in transition or in the halfcourt offense.

#5 Zakai Zeigler: Zeigler is a 5’9″ 170 pounds guard out of New York. He is averaging 8.8 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 36.4% from the 3pt line. Even though he averages under nine points per game, he has scored in the double digits seven out of the last ten games. Zeigler is on the floor for his defensive prowess and to get after the other team’s backcourt. He allows 0.645 PPP which ranks 286th in the country.

Frontcourt Personnel

#30 Josiah-Jordan James: James is a 6’6″ 220 pound wing out of South Carolina. He is averaging 10.2 points, six rebounds, and 1.4 steals. James is a good athlete, and even though he is more of a wing, he plays the power forward slot for Tennessee. He gives them a versatile option on both ends of the floor, and assists on the interior. James is not the main option, but he has snuck in as the secondary option lately. In the last seven games, he has averaged 14.9 points while shooting 51.4% from 3pt range and 49.3% from the floor. Moussa Diabate will have his hands full again, guarding a tough forward who must be contained in order for Michigan to continue their season.

#10 John Fulkerson: Fulkerson is a 6’9″ 220 pound sixth year senior out of Tennessee. He is averaging 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 52.3% from the 3pt line. Fulkerson is not a 3pt shooter who can stretch the floor, he lives within 17 feet of the basket. He’s a good FT shooter so when he is in the paint, be physical without fouling, and make him shoot over outstretched arms. Fulkerson is not the starting big but he still plays a majority of the minutes at the big man spot.