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March Madness: Five opposing players to watch for Tennessee Vols’ first weekend of 2022 NCAA Tournament

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 23, 2022; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams guard David Roddy (21) after the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Moby Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2022; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams guard David Roddy (21) after the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Moby Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) and forward Moussa Diabate (14) celebrate a play against Iowa during the second half at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) and forward Moussa Diabate (14) celebrate a play against Iowa during the second half at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Thursday, March 3, 2022. /

2. Hunter Dickinson – Michigan Wolverines

Center; Sophomore; 7’1″ 260 pounds

Let’s look at purely a matchup disadvantage. Michigan probably poses the biggest threat to the Vols in the first weekend of March Madness because of their inside presence with Olivier Nkamhoua out for the Vols. Don’t forget that power forward Moussa Diabate is a true freshman but a projected first-round pick. He could have been on here.

However, Diabate is raw, and John Fulkerson is experienced enough to handle him with help from the athleticism of Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Jonas Aidoo. The problem, though, is that Rocky Top will have a much harder time handling Michigan’s seven-footer at center in Hunter Dickinson who is also their leading scorer.

Dickinson is an old-school style dominant player, averaging over 18 points and eight rebounds a game. He also has over two assists and nearly one and a half blocks, and he averages over half a three-pointer a game, shooting 31.6 percent from beyond the arc and 79.4 percent from the free throw line.

As a result, Dickinson has a decent level of finesse to his game as well. Uros Plavsic is the only guy with the size to guard him, but Plavsic can’t step out on the perimeter to do so. As a result, UT will have a real problem with Dickinson if the two face off, and that’s a concern.

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