No. 11 Tennessee Set to Face Stingy Virginia Defense in Baha Mar Hoops Tournament
No. 11 Tennessee and Virginia Clash in Baha Mar Hoops Tournament
In a highly anticipated matchup, the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers will take on the stingy Virginia Cavaliers in the Baha Mar Hoops tournament on Thursday night in Nassau, Bahamas. Both teams enter the game undefeated, with Tennessee boasting a perfect 4-0 record and Virginia sitting at 3-0.
The Volunteers have been on fire offensively, shooting an impressive 63.8 percent from the field in their last game against Austin Peay, where they cruised to a 103-68 victory. Tennessee has scored at least 77 points in every game this season and has four players averaging double-digit points per game.
On the other side, the Cavaliers have been dominant on the defensive end, holding opponents to under 60 points in each game and limiting them to just 33.8 percent shooting from the field. Virginia is coming off a solid 70-60 win over Villanova and will look to continue their defensive prowess against Tennessee.
The Baha Mar Hoops tournament also features Baylor and St. John’s, with the consolation and championship games set for Friday night. Tennessee has been in control of their games this season, trailing for just over a minute in total through four games.
Tennessee’s head coach Rick Barnes is looking forward to the challenge of facing Virginia’s tough defense, saying, “Every game will take on its own identity, and Virginia is obviously a well-coached team. We have so much respect for the people we play against, and we know how we want to play, but the other team does, too.”
Virginia’s interim coach Ron Sanchez has continued the team’s tradition of strong defense and perimeter play, with the Cavaliers allowing just 53.7 points per game and shooting 44.6 percent from 3-point range. Isaac McKneely has been a standout player for Virginia, averaging a team-high 16.0 points per game.
The clash between Tennessee’s high-powered offense and Virginia’s lockdown defense promises to be an exciting matchup in the Baha Mar Hoops tournament. Fans can expect a thrilling game as these two unbeaten teams battle it out on the court.