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Tennessee basketball: Despite giving up more points, Vols defense hasn’t dropped off

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: John Petty #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide defended by Jordan Bone #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: John Petty #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide defended by Jordan Bone #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – JANUARY 23: Simisola Shittu #11 of the Vanderbilt Commodores drives to the basket against Kyle Alexander #11 and Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half of the game at Memorial Gym on January 23, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 88-83 in overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No.4 – Turnover percentage

Tennessee’s defense is on pace to match last season’s numbers on turnover percentage for the opposing teams.

In the 2017-18 season, the Vols had an overall record of 14-3 in games where they made their opponent turn the ball over 20 percent of the time. The three games they lost were to Missouri by four points, North Carolina by five, and Villanova by nine. Remember, Tennessee was up on Villanova by 12 at the half and squander away the lead.

When turning teams over 25 percent of the time last season the Vols were 5-0 when the closest victory being the nine-point win over North Carolina State.

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So far this season, the Vols have an overall record of 8-0 when turning opponents over 20 percent of the time. Those games haven’t been close. In fact, Georgia Tech was the only team to turn the ball over at least 20 percent of the possessions and keep the game within 15 points.

Tennessee turned over  Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia 25 percent of the time and won those games by a combined 45 points.

So, as you can see, the Vols are still playing good defense when it comes to turning opponents over. In fact, by the end of the season, they might have even better percentages to show for it.

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