Three Things to Watch in Tennessee’s Opening Game in the Baha Mar Championship
Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics
By Tucker Harlin
#11 Tennessee (4-0) squares off with Virginia (3-0) Thursday night at the Baha Mar Hoop Championship in Nassau. The game tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET and airs on CBS Sports Network.
The Vols are favored by 12.5 points in this game and the total sits at a lowly 126.5 on ESPN. When Virginia’s involved, you can count on a defensive battle.
Here are three things I’m keeping an eye on in Nassau.
TENNESSEE’S DEFENSIVE STRATEGY FOR ISAAC MCKNEELY
For those who don’t watch Virginia basketball, Isaac McKneely is coming of a 6/6 performance from distance in the Cavaliers’ 70-60 victory over Villanova. McKneely is the most stable option the Wahoos featured on offense in the past two seasons.
So, what does a defense do against a player like McKneely?
You could allow McKneely to get his while limiting the rest of the offense. This strategy can be effective against a team like Virginia that is sparse in prolific scorers.
The other strategy is to stick someone like Jahmai Mashack or Zakai Zeigler on McKneely and force him to earn the right to shoot. I don’t imagine Rick Barnes allowing for McKneely to get his in Nassau.
DISTRIBUTION OF MINUTES WITHOUT CARR AND ESTRELLA
It was announced Thursday morning that Cam Carr will miss at least a month with a lingering thumb injury while J.P. Estrella’s status is up in the air due to an injury along the lines of the plantar fasciitis he dealt with before the season.
While he was expected to take a jump this season, Carr isn’t getting extended minutes to start the year. This just means more playing time for guys like Jahmai Mashack and Chaz Lanier.
The injury to Estrella is one that hurts depth at a position where you need it to offset the effects of foul trouble. Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips naturally fit into the five, but Igor Milicic can also play there should those two find themselves in foul trouble.
Another name to keep an eye on for minutes in the stead of both Carr and Estrella is Darlinstone Dubar. The Hofstra transfer has missed time due to a personal matter, but the fact he has practiced and dressed for games suggests his return is imminent.
TENNESSEE’S COUNTER TO THE PACK LINE DEFENSE
While we don’t know if Virginia can muster the offense to overcome Tennessee’s defense, we know it will bring the energy on the other side of the court.
I’ll knock on wood, but we haven’t seen Tennessee post that dreadful shooting night yet outside of the exhibition. Indiana was in Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center a little less than a month ago, so I think that’s close enough to say its not due one of those bad nights.
I don’t expect Tennessee to pound the ball inside the way it did against Austin Peay. The Cavaliers are long, so they will meet the Vols with resistance in the paint.
I think the offense will run through the guards against Virginia. Chaz Lanier, Zakai Zeigler, and Jordan Gainey will be important on that end for the Vols.
