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Tennessee basketball: Vols 5 toughest potential matchups in NCAA Tournament’s South Region

By Caleb Calhoun

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bone #0 (second from left) of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bone #0 (second from left) of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images /

Similar to Kermit Davis, Mick Cronin runs a defense inspired by what Rick Pitino ran with the Louisville Cardinals. It’s aggressive and focuses on deflections and trapping, and this is the type of half-court defense the Auburn Tigers employed when they went on their first-half run against Tennessee basketball in the SEC Tournament championship game.

Overall, Ole Miss would seem to have two advantages over Cincinnati. One is that Davis and the Rebels full-court press more, while Cronin focuses on the defense in the half-court game. The other is that Ole Miss is a bigger threat offensively because they turn up the tempo.

However, Cincinnati’s overall defensive efficiency is higher with their style. And most importantly, if the Vols face the Bearcats, it will be in the second round in Columbus, Ohio. Playing what could potentially be a road game against that defense makes this a very tough matchup.

Look, Cincinnati is not 28-6 for nothing. Their win over the Houston Cougars to win the AAC Championship has to count for something, even if they did finish the regular season with two straight losses.

Right now, they are riding a wave of momentum and on a roll. Vols fans should root for the No. 10 seed Iowa Hawkeyes at all costs to beat them in the first round. Iowa is a much easier matchup for Barnes’s team and what Barnes likes to run. Cincinnati, on the other hand, could be very difficult in the NCAA Tournament if a couple of things go awry.

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