Tomorrow afternoon, in Nashville, Tennessee, the Vols will have their biggest game of the season against their arch-rival, Vanderbilt. These teams couldn't be any more different. Tennessee likes to slow the game down and play a gritty, second-chance style of basketball. Vandy plays with one of the fastest paces in the nation, shoots a ton of threes, and they focus on taking care of the basketball.
Tennessee has to take advantage of Vanderbilt's lack of elite size and make what Vandy wants to be a track meet into a 12-round heavyweight fight. On offense, the Vols need to slow the game down and crash the offensive glass. Tennessee hasn't had a problem outrebounding teams this year, as they are No. 1 in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage. Rick Barnes alluded to this after the Oklahoma game, but if Tennessee can take care of the basketball, they are a much better team, obviously, but it helps them do what they do best. If the Vols turn it over, they don’t even get a shot up, and the more shot attempts they generate, the better their chances of cashing in on second-chance opportunities.
Guarding Vandy on the defensive end won't be easy, but Tennessee has to avoid giving up the three-point line. I expect Rick Barnes to zero in on Tyler Nickel and Tyler Tanner, pushing them to put the ball on the floor and attack inside rather than settling for shots from beyond the arc. In what should be a low-possession game, forcing Vanderbilt to work in the paint on every trip could ultimately tilt things in the Vols’ favor.
Who needs to step up for Tennessee?
At the end of the day, it has to be Nate Ament and Ja'Kobi Gillespie stepping up for the Vols. This game will likely come down to the last possession, and if I'm Rick Barnes, I would draw up a play for one of these two, depending on who is having the better night. It will be a grind on Saturday, but if Tennessee can have its stars step up in the big moments and take care of the basketball, the rest should take care of itself.