Tennessee basketball: Can Grant Williams lead the Vols to the Elite Eight?

The Tennessee basketball team is playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2014 season. Here is the preview of the Tennessee Volunteers vs. Purdue Boilermakers game.

The Tennessee basketball says hello to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament as they gear up to play the No.3 seed Purdue Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 matchup. This will be the sixth Sweet 16 game for the Vols since 2000, and the eighth in program history.

The bad news?

Tennessee has advanced to the Elite Eight only once. That came back in 2010 when they defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes thanks to 22 points and 11 rebounds from Wayne Chism.

Before we break down both teams, below is all the information you need to turn into the game.

No.3 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No.2 Tennessee Volunteers

When: Thursday, March 28 at 7:29 p.m. E.T.
Where: KFC Yum! Center; Louisville, Kentucky
TV: TBS
Live Stream: NCAA.com
Line: Tennessee -1.5
Over/Under: 146.5

VIEW OF THE VOLS

Record: 31-5 (15-3 SEC)
Last 5: 4-1
Last 10: 7-3

Tennessee finds itself in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014 with two wins over Colgate and Iowa. Although the games have been close, the end goal of the NCAA Tournament is to survive and advance, and that’s what the Vols are doing.

Purdue has a pretty tough defense that ranks 27th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. But, they haven’t played a Tennessee offense that ranks top-3 in the country either. And, they don’t have anyone that can guard the back-to-back SEC Player of the Year in Grant Williams.

Sure Matt Haarms is a clog in the lane, but he is likely to match up with Kyle Alexander. And, even if the double team comes to Williams, he has proved he will always make the right pass.

Lamonte Turner has been hot lately, but it has stemmed from him playing within the offense. In four losses that excludes the SEC Championship Game, Turner shot 4-for-31,12.9 percent from deep. Since the game against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament, his three-point percentage is 27.1 percent better. He’s shooting 40 percent from deep and has been a massive help to the Vols offense.

VIEW OF THE BOILERMAKERS

Record: 25-9 (16-4 BIG10)
Last 5: 3-2
Last 10: 8-2

Purdue is playing in their third straight Sweet 16 game. This is nothing new to Matt Painter. However, his teams haven’t had much success just 0-7 when playing a No.3 seed or higher in those games.

The Boilermakers haven’t been tested in the tournament with double-digit wins over Old Dominion and Villanova. Against the Wildcats Purdue shot 16-for-30, 53.3 percent from deep and controlled the entire game.

In five games this season the Boilermakers have finished the game with a 40 percent (two-point percentage) or lower. They ended up losing four of them to Michigan State, Michigan, Mayland, and Minnesota.

This wouldn’t be much of a preview if I didn’t mention Carsen Edwards. Look, the guy can score the basketball, and he’s also going to shoot 100 times a game. Okay, I’m kidding, but there was a two-game stretch where Edwards went 7-for-40, and Purdue still won both games.

PREDICTION

The more I study this matchup, the more I like Tennessee to win. Although Purdue is effective on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Sure, Edwards can score; averaging 23.6 points per game so expect him to get his.

However, that doesn’t always mean a Boilermakers win. Purdue’s Carsen Edwards is a fantastic player. He’s scored 35% of the Boilermakers’ points in 15 different games this season. However, Purdue holds just a 9-6 record in those games.

I think the Vols get this win with ease. Tennessee 75 Purdue 67.