Tennessee Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Volunteers to beat Memphis

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 28: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at the KFC YUM! Center on March 28, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 of the Memphis Tigers, Chandler Lawson #13, Francis Okoro #33 of the Oregon Ducks and Lance Thomas #15 of the Memphis Tigers (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

2. Tennessee is good on the glass, but Memphis is better

The next key for Tennessee will come on the boards, the rebounding battle will be a strong sign as to whether the Volunteers are having a good game or not. Tennessee in their own right is not a bad rebounding team, they rank 21st in rebounding margin at 8.5, 48th in defensive rebounds per game (28.75), and 62nd in total rebounds per game with 39.63, but the Memphis Tigers have performed even better on the glass.

While Tennessee has a better rebound margin, the Tigers’ margin is 4.9, but Memphis has been better across the board in the other rebounding categories. Memphis ranks in the top-60 nationally in offensive (12.44), defensive (28.78), and total rebounds per game (41.22).

In terms of looking at the rosters of these two, both teams have a pretty even rebounding distribution, with at least six players grabbing at least three per game, and they are both led by freshmen, Precious Achiuwa leads the Tigers that will play with 9.6, the suspended James Wiseman was averaging 10.7 in his three-game, and for Tennessee, Josiah-Jordan James is tops with 6.8. So, as good as Tennessee has been on the glass, they will have to be even better on Saturday in order to win.

Home/Tennessee Volunteers