All for Tennessee
Fansided

NCAA Tournament 2021: Five players for Tennessee basketball to watch first weekend

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Ethan Thompson (5) gestures on the court during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Ethan Thompson (5) gestures on the court during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Mar 12, 2021; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2) takes the court against the Baylor Bears during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2021; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2) takes the court against the Baylor Bears during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Freshman; 6’8″ 220 pounds

This year’s standout player in college basketball is in the Tennessee Vols’ bracket of the NCAA Tournament and will face the Liberty Flames in the first round. Cade Cunningham is likely going to be the top pick in the NBA Draft, and who wouldn’t want him? He has the perfect combination of length, athleticism and skill.

More from Vols Basketball

Cunningham is averaging 20.2 points and nearly six and a half rebounds a game. What stands out, though, is that he is shooting 41.2 percent from the three-point line while hitting over two a game, which means he already has refined skills for the next level. The guy is also a solid defensive player, averaging nearly one and a half steals and nearly one block per game.

Add in the fact that this guy is shooting 85.4 percent from the free throw line, and he does it all. The No. 4 seed Oklahoma State Cowboys go as he goes. If guard Avery Anderson III, who is averaging 11.7 points a game, is hitting his shots, the combo of the two is unbeatable, and that allows Kalib Boone, who we already mentioned, to dominate inside.

Related Story. Vol basketball's road to the Final Four. light

All three guys are valuable, but Oklahoma State is disproportionately reliant on Cunningham. He is the sole reasons fourth-year head coach Mike Boynton was able to get this team to the Big Dance for the first time. His efforts also helped them reach the Big 12 Tournament Championship game, a 20-8 record, a No. 11 ranking in the AP Poll and a No. 12 ranking in the Coaches Poll.

Home/Vols Basketball