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Wofford coach on facing Tennessee's 3-point defense: 'Step one is you pray'

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•03/19/25•

GrantRamey

Jahmai Mashack, Tennessee Basketball | Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) tries a shot around Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) during the first half of a Southeastern Conference tournament semifinal game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 15, 2025.

LEXINGTON — Wofford coach Dwight Perry wasn’t afraid to share on Wednesday exactly how his team will attack Tennessee’s perimeter defense in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Or at least share how the scouting report starts.

“Well, step one is you pray, right?” Perry said during his press conference Wednesday, referencing Tennessee’s No. 1-ranked defense at the 3-point line. “So that’s a key piece to this.”

Tennessee (27-7) is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, facing No. 15 Wofford (19-15) Thursday (6:50 p.m. Eastern Time, TNT) at Rupp Arena. The winner advances to Saturday’s second round against either No. 7 UCLA or No. 10 Utah State.

The Vols dropped to No. 3 in KenPom.com‘s adjusted defensive efficiency after giving up 74.3 points per game in three SEC Tournament games, after spending the majority of the season ranked No. 1.

Tennessee ranked No. 1 in 3-point defense, allowing just 27.3%

Tennessee remains No. 1 in 3-point percentage allowed, at 27.3%. The Vols are No. 29 in 2-point percentage, allowing 46.7% from inside the arc. 

“Tennessee is really good at, I feel like, everything defensively,” Perry said. “I feel like sometimes they have seven, eight guys on the court defending. But that’s obviously a credit to their team, to Coach Barnes. His reputation speaks for itself.”

Rick Barnes has led five straight Tennessee teams to a top-five ranking in KenPom defensive efficiency. The Vols finished at No. 3 last season, were No. 1 in 2023, No. 3 in 2022 and No. 5 in 2021.  

Perry’s Wofford team is ranked No. 67 in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 113.7 points per 100 possessions. The Terriers are No. 138 at the 3-point line, shooting 34.5%, and are No. 53 in 2-point percentage, at 54.6%. 

Three-point attempts account for 47.7% of Wofford’s total field goal attempts this season, which is No. 23 nationally. The Terriers score 38.8% of their points at the 3-point, ranked No. 27, and 44.9% of total points on 2-point shots, which is No. 316 nationally, out of 364.

“For us,” Perry said, “we’ve talked about it a lot. They’re a really good, to your point, No. 1 three-point defense in the country. A good rebounding team. They frustrate you and bother you with how they play with not only their speed and quickness and length but also their physicality.

“So the biggest thing for us is we have to still play to who we are. We have to fight for really great shots. We have faced great teams. Obviously Tennessee’s defense is on another level. But for us, the biggest thing is we’re going to have to be aggressive and still be disciplined and simple.”

‘We have to do a good job of puncturing the (Tennessee) defense’

Wofford played only one power conference opponent this season, losing 86-35 at Duke on November 16. The Terriers finished 5-for-33 from the 3-point line. 

Justin Bailey leads Wofford at the 3-point line, shooting 45.1% on 122 attempts. Four Wofford players have made 55 or more threes this season — Dillon Bailey (65), Corey Tripp (60), Jackson Sivills (60) and Bailey (55)

“I think for us the biggest thing is we have to get great looks,” Perry said. “A lot of times that’s probably going to be from three, but we have to do a good job of puncturing the defense, the heart of their defense, and taking great looks from wherever they come, whether it’s from two or three.”

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