The No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers are feeling good about how they’re enjoying this season heading into their recreation with Montana on Wednesday night time in Knoxville, Tenn.
Particularly on protection.
Of their most up-to-date recreation, the Volunteers dominated Louisville 77-55 on Saturday to enhance to 2-0.
A key participant within the victory was Jahmai Mashack, who scored solely three factors however grabbed seven rebounds in displaying his versatility as a defender.
Mashack additionally tallied three steals to assist lead Tennessee’s sturdy effort.
“I imply, he was simply dominant,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes mentioned of Mashack. “And he does all of the issues that go into successful. And his effort was nice. I believed everybody’s effort defensively was there.”
Tennessee compelled Louisville to shoot solely 26.7 % from the sector, and opponents are taking pictures solely 34.8 % towards the Vols this season.
Offensively, Tennessee has proven how harmful it may be, particularly with veteran guards Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier main the best way.
Zeigler scored 19 within the win over the host Cardinals, together with 11 within the closing 13 minutes, and is averaging 16.0 factors per outing.
Lanier, a fifth-year standout, leads the crew at 18.5 factors per recreation. He scored a season-best 19 towards Louisville. Felix Okpara additionally scored in double figures, chipping in 10 factors.
Lanier informed reporters after the sport that the truth that Tennessee performed so nicely on the street in a troublesome surroundings is big for this system transferring ahead because it goals to contend for a title this season.
“It is simply toughness,” Lanier mentioned. “Backside line is it simply reveals how robust we’re.”
Montana (2-1) dominated Northwest Indian Faculty 94-44 on Sunday however now will face its greatest take a look at of the 12 months as far as it goes on the street to face a Southeastern Convention opponent.
The Grizzlies allowed their fewest factors since 2021 in Sunday’s win and had a 50-26 rebounding benefit. 9 gamers scored for Montana, together with Kai Johnson, who contributed a team-high 22 factors. He’s averaging a team-best 16.3 per recreation this season.
The Grizzlies will face their second Energy 5 college of the 12 months after shedding 79-48 to Oregon of their opener on Nov. 8.
Montana is feeling good about its course however is aware of it is from the crew it needs to be at this level within the season.
“We have had numerous guys out and in,” Grizzlies coach Travis DeCuire mentioned. “We have had a number of guys miss numerous practices. I feel we’re three guys within the rotation which have missed 10 or extra practices. For chemistry, for movement, that is enjoying a bit into the place we’re a bit behind the place we wish to be proper now.”
Matching the Volunteers will not be simple, particularly with Tennessee’s means to knock down 3-point pictures along with the crew’s defensive toughness.
The Vols made 10 3-pointers towards Louisville — out of 19 makes an attempt — and have linked 18 instances from 3-point vary this season.
–Area Degree Media