SEC TOURNAMENT THREAD: Texas A&M vs. No. 9 Tennessee

Ben_McKee · Mar 13, 2022

Happy Championship Sunday!

Texas A&M (23-11) and No. 9 Tennessee (25-7) in the SEC Tournament Title Game coming up at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Here's your usual pre-game readying material..... Updates and coverage to follow.

Notes on today’s matchup:

Tennessee is 10-6 all-time against Texas A&M
- Today is the first meeting between the two teams in the SEC Tournament
Tennessee won this season's lone meeting, 90-80, in Knoxville
Tennessee is making its 13th all-time appearance in the SEC Tournament championship game
The Vols have now reached the title game both times the SEC Tournament has been played in Tampa (2009 and 2022)
Tennessee has won the SEC Tournament four times, tying Florida for third-most
- The Vols won in 1936, 1941, 1943 and 1979.

Projected Texas A&M (23-11) starting lineup:

G, Wade Taylor, Fr.
- 8.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 27.9% from three, 32.8 FG%
- Averaging 8.3 points per game in SEC play
- Scored a team-high 19 points in the first game against Tennessee
G, Tyrece Radford, Jr. — Virginia Tech transfer
- 10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 42.7 3P%, 50.9 FG%
- Has scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games
- The only Aggie to start in every game this season
G, Manny Obaseki, Fr.
- 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, 31.8 3P%, 34.8 FG%
G, Quenton Jackson, Sr. — All-SEC Second Team
- leads the team at 14.8 points per game, and has scored in double figures 28 times
- 3.4 rebounds, 36 3P%, 48.8 FG%
F, Henry Coleman, So. — Duke transfer
- Leads the team rebounds (6.3) and is second in points at 12.1 in SEC play
- Shooting 56.8% from the floor in SEC play
- 11.2 points, 55.8 FG%

Key Texas A&M bench players:

PG, Marcus Williams, So. — Wyoming transfer
- Has scored in double figures in 10 games
- 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 28.3 3P%, 36.2 FG% in 24.3 minutes
G, Andre Gordon, Jr.
- 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 39.8 3P%, 42.4 FG% in 22.0 minutes
- Has scored in double figures in seven games
G, Hassan Diarra, So.
- 5.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 30.8 3P%, 36.7 FG% in 15.0 minutes
F, Ethan Henderson, Sr. — Arkansas transfer
- 2.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 62.3 FG% in 14.1 minutes
G, Aaron Cash, Jr.
- 2.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 56.3 FG% in 12.4 minutes
G, Hayden Hefner, So.
- 3.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, 38.5 3P%, 43.9 FG% in 10.0 minutes
F, Javonte Brown, Fr. — UConn transfer
- 1.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 52 FG% in 7.3 minutes

Texas A&M is No. 42 in KenPom entering the game — KenProm projects a 69-62 Tennessee win
- KenPom gives Tennessee a 73% chance of winning
27th in bench minutes (39.1%)
53rd in strength of schedule
194th in adjusted tempo (66.8)
270th in experience (1.54 years)
281st in minutes continuity (32.8%)
297th in average height (76.2”)
325th in 2-foul participation (325th)

Texas A&M offensive strengths: — No. 67 in offensive efficiency (109.5)

29th in offensive rebound% (33.7)
53rd in FTA/FGA (35.4)
119th in A/FGM (53.1)
122nd in non-steal TO% (8.6)

Texas A&M offensive weaknesses:

167th in effective FG% (50.2)
170th in 2P% (49.9)
- 52.2% of points come from two (139th)
172nd in 3P% (33.8)
- 28.2% of points come from three (256th)
235th Turnover% (19.3)
247th in 3PA/FGA (34.7)
252nd in FT% (69.5)
- 19.7% of points come from free throws (78th)
312th in steal% (8.6)
346th in block% (12.6)

Texas A&M defensive strengths: — No. 37 in defensive efficiency (94.7)

3rd in steal% (14.3)
8th in turnover% (24.0)
51st in 3P% defense (31.1)
- 29.0% of opponent’s points come from three (259th)
103rd in block% (10.1)
81st in effective FG% defense (47.9)
103rd in non-steal TO% (9.7)
136th in 2P% defense (48.6)
- 49.9% of opponent’s points come from three (211th)

Texas A&M defensive weaknesses:

182nd in 3PA/FGA (37.7)
268th in FT% defense (73.4)
- 21.1% of opponent’s points come from free throws (40th)
288th in FTA/FGA (34.8)
339th in offensive rebound% (33.0)
352nd in A/FGM (63.4)

Refs for today’s game: (Rank per KenPom)

Terry Oglesby (No. 3)
Joe Lindsay (No. 25)
Tony Greene (No. 49)

TV Crew (ESPN):

Karl Ravech (pxp)
Jimmy Dykes (analyst)
Marty Smith (sideline)

RockyTopHoosier · Mar 13, 2022