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Tennessee Basketball: 3 keys to beating Wright State

By Daniel Benjamin

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the basket against Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the basket against Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Can the Tennessee Volunteers make noise in the 2018 NCAA Tournament?

The Matchup: No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers (25-8) vs. No. 14 Wright State (25-9) in a second round NCAA South Region matchup.

Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas (Texas)

 Time: Tip-off is set for 12:40 p.m. (ET) on March 15.

The Tennessee Volunteers have taken major steps under third-year coach Rick Barnes. The Volunteers will look continue to their climb back into relevancy in the landscape of college basketball when they take on Wright State in the second round of NCAA Tournament play on Thursday.

Tennessee earned a No.3 seed in the South Region by being one of the most consistent teams in the NCAA this season. The Vols, who lost consecutive games just once this season, are among 35 teams in the nation to finish with eight or fewer losses. It marks the program’s fewest losses since 2005-06 when they went 22-8 under current Auburn coach Bruce Pearl.

Tennessee captured a share of its first SEC regular-season crown since 2008, despite starting league play with two straight losses. The Vols reached the finals of the SEC Tournament and have rattled off 14 wins in their last 17 games. Defense and SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams are a major reason the Vols are where they are. However, 6-foot-5 junior Admiral Schofield has really stepped up his game recently.

Wright State is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Raiders, who set a program record with their 25 wins, earned the Horizon League’s automatic berth. The Raiders finished second in the Horizon League during the regular season but handily defeated Cleveland State in the conference tournament final.

Senior guard Grant Benzinger leads a relatively inexperienced Wright St. club. Benzinger is the Raiders all-time leading 3-point shooter with 276 career makes, although he has the ability to get by defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim. The 6-foot-3 point guard also doesn’t turn the ball over.

The winner of this matchup will face either No.6 Miami or No. 11 Loyola (Chicago) in the third round.

The following are some keys to the game for the Volunteers.

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