March is here, and it's the perfect time to really hone in on what the bracket matchups could look like for Tennessee as they begin to prepare for the big dance.
With Tennessee hovering around a No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their first-round matchup could go one of two ways. They might draw a "lower-end" Power Five opponent like Ohio State or TCU, or a dangerous mid-major such as Miami (OH) or Santa Clara.
In CBS Sports' latest bracketology, the Vols are slated to take on Miami (OH) in the No. 5 versus No. 12 matchup in the South Region.
Why Miami (OH)would be a bad matchup for Tennessee
Getting a draw versus a team like Miami (OH) would be an absolute nightmare for Tennessee. The RedHawks currently sit at a perfect 30-0, and with plenty of games coming down to the wire they have a winning DNA where they always find a way to get it done. The Redhawks are one of the most efficient teams in America, shooting 61.7% from the field on all two-point attempts. Despite being a mid-major, Miami rebounds hard and crashes the glass on defense.
Miami is also a really hard team to gameplan for, because head coach Kevin Steele doesn't call plays. Yep, that's right, they have a free-flowing motion offense that relies on reading the defense and spacing out the floor. Steele will only run a set play out of a timeout or on an inbounds play.
Tennessee would have the size and strength advantage, no doubt. Plus, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament would no doubt be the two best players on the floor, but a 30-win mid-major team has a certain amount of moxy that a "bad" Power Five conference team just doesn't have. One thing that bodes well for the Vols is that if they can out-rebound Miami, they will have success. The Redhawks rank 331st in the country in potential points allowed off of second-chance opportunities. This is an area where the Tennessee Vols thrive, and it has become the identity of Rick Barnes' team.
It's not a set and stone matchup, but be on the lookout becvause Maimi is a team Tennessee would prefer to avoid this March in the Round of 64.