2013 SEC Tournament: Tennessee Volunteers VS Mississippi State Bulldogs
By Zach Ragan
Mar 2, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josh Richardson (1) attempts to pass around Georgia Bulldogs center John Cannon (41) and forward Brandon Morris (31) in the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Volunteers will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday in the second round of the 2013 SEC tournament.
The Bulldogs beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 70-59 on Wednesday to advance to the second round.
The Vols are considered a team firmly on the bubble at the moment. Joe Lunardi has the Vols as the last team getting an at large bid as of this morning. If Tennessee loses to Mississippi State they can essentially kiss their tournament hopes goodbye.
The fact that the Vols are even in a position to make the tournament is an achievement in it’s own right. Tennessee was 11-10 in early February before winning six games in a row and putting themselves back in the tournament picture.
The Vols success can be traced to head coach Cuonzo Martin’s decision to go with a smaller lineup. The smaller lineup proved to be more effective.
Trae Golden also came back from a hamstring injury as a different player.
Golden, who had lost his starting job before his injury, returned to the lineup and the Vols immediately improved. Trae Golden proved to be the key to winning for the Vols. If Golden played well so did the Vols. When Golden played bad not even a huge game from Jordan McRae could carry Tennessee.
Speaking of McRae, he has proved to be invaluable as well. McRae has been on an incredible run as of late. The junior guard is averaging 25.8 points a game over his last six games of the season.
Tennessee and Mississippi State will tip off at 3:30 pm est today. The game will be show on the SEC network/ESPN3
If the Vols make it past the Bulldogs they’ll take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the third round on Friday at 3:30 pm est.