#1 Memphis -6 vs #2 Tennessee: 0/u 158
9:0pm
The FedEx Forum
ESPN
Memphis: (RPI #2, Sagarin #1)
26-0
13-11-2 ATS
15-0 Home
14-12 0/u
SOS 21
vs top 50 (6-0)
Tennessee (RPI 1#, Sagarin #7)
24-2
13-9 ATS
7-1 Road
10-12 0/u
SOS 2
vs top 50 (9-1)
Well here we have it, a game that has all the makings of a classic. We've got two teams from the same state, a budding rivalry between the coaches and programs, and the classic #21 vs #2 showdown. This line opened at 6 and has moved to 5.5 at a lot of places despite 65% of the public selecting the vols to cover according to wagerline.com. This game will feature two of the most athletically gifted teams in the nation and a couple of the more flamboyant coaches.
When you think about the Memphis Tigers you think, up tempo, lots of speed, lots of power, and relentless activity on both sides of the court. Memphis features nine players that get 15 plus minutes a game led by guard Derrick Rose and Detroit product Chris Douglas-Roberts. These two present a very physical back court and make for one of the best rebounding guard tandems in the nation. Up front the Tigers will bang you around with a couple 6-9 forwards in Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey; each of whom pull 7 or more off the glass a night.
The Vols will bring much of the same kind of speed, but they aren't quite as physical. Tennessee is led by pre-season All-American Chris Lofton and All_SEC hopeful JaJuan Smith. Each of these guards have shown the ability to knock down the 3 and carry the team offensively for long stretches. Down low the vols will spread their minutes around a bit more. Duke Crews is coming back into form and hes a nasty rebounder when hes in. Crews is coming off a heart ailment and was clearled to play a couple weeks back. His addition gives Tennessee some much needed toughness inside along with Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith, and Brian Williams. The Vols biggest advantage tonight will be their dept, they have 12 players averaging over 10 and a half minutes per outing. That is something you won't see often. They may need to use up a lot of fouls vs a Memphis squad that is superior on the glass, but really struggles from the line.
The Key to this game will likely be how well Memphis is able to defend the 3 ball. The Tigers are 13th in the nation in defending the 3 (30%), but they're facing perhaps the nations best shooter in Chris Lofton, who has hit 48% over his last ten games in which hes managed 18.6 points per. When Lofton is covered tightly, Howell and JaJuan Smith will be looked on to knock down some a few from behind the arc. Tennesse isn't the best half court offense, but when they can stretch you with the long ball, it opens up more inside for guys like Crews, Chism, and Williams. The most complete player on the Tennessee roster is 6-7 forward Tyler Smith who transfered in from Iowa. Smith is not only a great finisher, but he is also a very good rebounder and perhaps the teams best passer. He'll be instrumental to the Vols success if they're not knocking down their jumpers early.
Memphis brings the complete package to the court. They're averaging over 80 points a contest and they rank 4th in the nation in FG percentage defense. If that wasn't enough, they're also fourth in the country in rebounding margin. The one weakness this team truly has is their inability to knock down FTs, which is something Bruce Pearl seemed to discredit,
"The toughest thing to guard is dribble penetration. It's difficult-to-impossible to keep those guys out of the line. The other thing with that is that they get to the foul line. People have made a big deal about the fact that Memphis doesn't shoot free throws very well, but they go there so often that they still be able to win games,"
In my eyes, if they can hit 70% or better from the charity stripe, there isn't a team in the country thats likely to keep pace with the Tigers at home.
Last year these two met in Knoxville and the unranked vols dominated the then #16 Memphis Tigers. All week the home team has been talking about revenge while the vols are saying that no one is giving them a chance, even though most experts seem to be evenly divided on this one. Both teams are deep, much improved from a season ago, and looking to solidify themselves as #1 seeds in the Tourney. Earlier in the year the Volunteers were a pretty poor rebounding team, but they've out rebounded their opponents in each of their last 8 games. I think Tennessee has the ability to score more points in a hurry, but you just can't like the way they've played on the road this year even with a 7-1 record. That being said, JP Prince, Ramar Smith, and Duke Crews have each been improving and the Vols have a couple sr leaders in their back court that have played in plenty of big games in their careers. My feeling is that Tennessee is too talented a team to give 6 points to no matter where they're playing. This time it just so happens that they're playing the #1 team in the land only a few hours from home. The atmosphere will be intense and the players will be on the main stage trying to prove that they're team is the best in the nation. Its my feeling that the passion will be seen on the defensive side of the ball and teams will struggle from the line as always.
i like this game to go under 158
i like the vols to cover the 6
9:0pm
The FedEx Forum
ESPN
Memphis: (RPI #2, Sagarin #1)
26-0
13-11-2 ATS
15-0 Home
14-12 0/u
SOS 21
vs top 50 (6-0)
Tennessee (RPI 1#, Sagarin #7)
24-2
13-9 ATS
7-1 Road
10-12 0/u
SOS 2
vs top 50 (9-1)
Well here we have it, a game that has all the makings of a classic. We've got two teams from the same state, a budding rivalry between the coaches and programs, and the classic #21 vs #2 showdown. This line opened at 6 and has moved to 5.5 at a lot of places despite 65% of the public selecting the vols to cover according to wagerline.com. This game will feature two of the most athletically gifted teams in the nation and a couple of the more flamboyant coaches.
When you think about the Memphis Tigers you think, up tempo, lots of speed, lots of power, and relentless activity on both sides of the court. Memphis features nine players that get 15 plus minutes a game led by guard Derrick Rose and Detroit product Chris Douglas-Roberts. These two present a very physical back court and make for one of the best rebounding guard tandems in the nation. Up front the Tigers will bang you around with a couple 6-9 forwards in Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey; each of whom pull 7 or more off the glass a night.
The Vols will bring much of the same kind of speed, but they aren't quite as physical. Tennessee is led by pre-season All-American Chris Lofton and All_SEC hopeful JaJuan Smith. Each of these guards have shown the ability to knock down the 3 and carry the team offensively for long stretches. Down low the vols will spread their minutes around a bit more. Duke Crews is coming back into form and hes a nasty rebounder when hes in. Crews is coming off a heart ailment and was clearled to play a couple weeks back. His addition gives Tennessee some much needed toughness inside along with Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith, and Brian Williams. The Vols biggest advantage tonight will be their dept, they have 12 players averaging over 10 and a half minutes per outing. That is something you won't see often. They may need to use up a lot of fouls vs a Memphis squad that is superior on the glass, but really struggles from the line.
The Key to this game will likely be how well Memphis is able to defend the 3 ball. The Tigers are 13th in the nation in defending the 3 (30%), but they're facing perhaps the nations best shooter in Chris Lofton, who has hit 48% over his last ten games in which hes managed 18.6 points per. When Lofton is covered tightly, Howell and JaJuan Smith will be looked on to knock down some a few from behind the arc. Tennesse isn't the best half court offense, but when they can stretch you with the long ball, it opens up more inside for guys like Crews, Chism, and Williams. The most complete player on the Tennessee roster is 6-7 forward Tyler Smith who transfered in from Iowa. Smith is not only a great finisher, but he is also a very good rebounder and perhaps the teams best passer. He'll be instrumental to the Vols success if they're not knocking down their jumpers early.
Memphis brings the complete package to the court. They're averaging over 80 points a contest and they rank 4th in the nation in FG percentage defense. If that wasn't enough, they're also fourth in the country in rebounding margin. The one weakness this team truly has is their inability to knock down FTs, which is something Bruce Pearl seemed to discredit,
"The toughest thing to guard is dribble penetration. It's difficult-to-impossible to keep those guys out of the line. The other thing with that is that they get to the foul line. People have made a big deal about the fact that Memphis doesn't shoot free throws very well, but they go there so often that they still be able to win games,"
In my eyes, if they can hit 70% or better from the charity stripe, there isn't a team in the country thats likely to keep pace with the Tigers at home.
Last year these two met in Knoxville and the unranked vols dominated the then #16 Memphis Tigers. All week the home team has been talking about revenge while the vols are saying that no one is giving them a chance, even though most experts seem to be evenly divided on this one. Both teams are deep, much improved from a season ago, and looking to solidify themselves as #1 seeds in the Tourney. Earlier in the year the Volunteers were a pretty poor rebounding team, but they've out rebounded their opponents in each of their last 8 games. I think Tennessee has the ability to score more points in a hurry, but you just can't like the way they've played on the road this year even with a 7-1 record. That being said, JP Prince, Ramar Smith, and Duke Crews have each been improving and the Vols have a couple sr leaders in their back court that have played in plenty of big games in their careers. My feeling is that Tennessee is too talented a team to give 6 points to no matter where they're playing. This time it just so happens that they're playing the #1 team in the land only a few hours from home. The atmosphere will be intense and the players will be on the main stage trying to prove that they're team is the best in the nation. Its my feeling that the passion will be seen on the defensive side of the ball and teams will struggle from the line as always.
i like this game to go under 158
i like the vols to cover the 6
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