Washington, Tennessee Set To Square Off In Intriguing Early-Season Matchup
Both teams are off to perfect 2-0 starts and have high hopes this year
Tennessee (2-0) at #20 Washington (2-0)
TENN -2, O/U 134.5
Saturday November 16th, 5:00pm EST
- After compiling a 57-15 record over the past two seasons, coach Rick Barnes has turned around the Tennessee Volunteers program and has his team off to a 2-0 start heading into their matchup with the Washington Huskies (2-0) at the James Naismith Classic in Toronto.
- Since taking over the Washington program in 2017, coach Mike Hopkins led his team to a 21-13 mark and then a 27-9 record last season. The Huskies are also off to a perfect start and boast one of the best freshman recruiting classes in the nation.
- Tennessee is listed as a two-point favorite and the game has an over/under of 134.5. Both of Washington’s games have finished under the point total (by 4.5 and then 35 points, respectively).
- By all accounts, this should be a tight contest. Over the last four seasons, Tennessee is 15-4 SU after allowing 65 or fewer points in two straight games. Meanwhile, over the last three seasons, Washington is 20-6 SU after a game in which they failed to cover the spread.
Tennessee
The Volunteers have taken down UNC Asheville (78-63) and Murray State (82-63) to start the season. Their offense has been on point and they’ve assisted on 40 or their 62 made field goals while shooting 50.4 percent from the field (62-for-123), including 46.2 percent from three-point range (18-of-39). Guards Jordan Bowden (18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists in 29.0 minutes), Yves Pons (17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks in 33.5 minutes) and Lamonte Turner (11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists in 37.5 minutes) have guided the Volunteers so far while forward John Fulkerson nearly averages a double-double (9.5 points, 9.0 rebounds) in 22.0 minutes per contest.
Over the last four seasons, Tennessee is 15-4 SU after allowing 65 or fewer points in two straight games.
Washington
The Huskies made a statement in their opener, taking down No. 16 Baylor by the score of 67-64 before beating Mount St. Mary’s (56-46). Although junior guard Nahziah Carter is leading the team in scoring (18.5 points in 34.5 minutes per game), all eyes will be on stellar freshmen Isaiah Stewart (15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks in 35.0 minutes) and Jaden McDaniels (11.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 blocks in 36.0 minutes). The consistent point production has come from that threesome so far and will likely continue to moving forward. Both Stewart and McDaniels are NBA prospects and were among the top prospects in their high school class. The Huskies have averaged 34.5 rebounds per game (9.5 less than Tennessee) and have assisted on 33 of their 46 made field goals. Further, they have a 43.4 field goal percentage (46-for-106), including a 36.4 percent mark (12-for-33) from deep. Turnovers have been an issue (35 — two more than their assist total), as expected by a team spearheaded by two first-year collegiate athletes.
Over the last three seasons, Washington is 20-6 SU after a game in which they failed to cover the spread.
Prediction
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