Tennessee basketball: 5 vulnerabilities Vols need to address for a Final Four run

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No.2 – Guarding the three-point shot

Tennessee has an adjusted defensive efficiency (AdjD): points per 100 possessions that ranks in the top-35 according to Kenpom.com. But, maybe that isn’t good enough. Here is a breakdown at where the past ten National Champions ranked at the end of the season in AdjD.

Villanova 17-18: 11th

North Carolina 16-17: 11th

Villanova 15-16: 5th

Duke 14-15: 11th

UConn 13-14: 10th

Louisville 12-13: 1st

Kentucky 11-12: 7th

UConn 10-11: 15th

Duke 09-10: 5th

North Carolina 08-09: 18th

I understand that Kenpom rankings aren’t the end all be all and I know there is more to defense than defending the three-point shot, however, maybe Tennessee could be a top-ten team defensively if they guard the deep jumper better.

The alarming poor three-point defense appeared against Florida. The Gators made nine three-point jumpers in the first half and was on their way to beating a top-five Tennessee team. One can argue that it was just lucky shooting, but it continued in the games after.

And, after more research, the Vols haven’t particularly guarded the three ball well all season. Louisville made 11 three’s while shooting almost 40 percent.

In the past game against Vanderbilt, the Commodores shot 47.6 percent from the three-point line. It wasn’t the fact that Vandy drilled 11 deep range jumpers, but most of them were wide open. If Tennessee wants to win in March, they won’t be able to let great teams get hot from beyond the arc.

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