Virginia Cavaliers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 21st 2024

Preview and Prediction

The 11th ranked Tennessee Volunteers will face off against the formidable Virginia defense on Thursday night in the Baha Mar Hoops tournament in Nassau, Bahamas. Both teams remain undefeated going into this highly anticipated matchup.

Tennessee (4-0) displayed an impressive 63.8 percent shooting percentage in their dominant 103-68 victory over Austin Peay on Sunday. They have consistently scored over 77 points in each game this season and have four players averaging at least 11.0 points per game.

On the other hand, the Cavaliers (3-0) have yet to allow more than 60 points in a game this season, holding their opponents to a mere 33.8 percent shooting percentage. They are coming off a 70-60 win against Villanova in Baltimore last Friday.

The Baha Mar Hoops tournament also includes Baylor and St. John's, with the consolation and championship games taking place on Friday night.

Tennessee has only been behind for a total of one minute and 34 seconds in their four games this season, including a brief 3-0 deficit before dominating Austin Peay in Knoxville. The Volunteers were up 52-29 at halftime and led by as many as 37 points.

Igor Milicic Jr. led the Vols in points (23) and rebounds (nine) for the second consecutive game, while Zakai Zeigler added 19 points and eight assists against the Governors.

Zeigler currently leads Tennessee with 15.5 points and 7.8 assists per game, while Milicic averages 14.0 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds. Chaz Lanier (13.8) and Jordan Gainey (11.0) are also contributing double-digit scoring for the Vols.

Head coach Rick Barnes believes his team is well-equipped for a strategic game against Virginia, stating, "Every game has its own identity, and Virginia is a well-coached team... We have a lot of respect for our opponents and we know how we want to play, but they have their own game plan as well. It will come down to execution on the court."

Sunday's victory marked the 600th home game for Barnes at Tennessee, compared to just two home games for interim coach Ron Sanchez at Virginia. Sanchez took over last month for three-time national coach of the year Tony Bennett and has continued the team's emphasis on tough defense and strong perimeter play.

The Cavaliers are currently allowing an average of just 53.7 points per game and have an impressive 6.0 blocked shots per game. Offensively, they rank in the top 10 in the country with a 44.6 percent shooting percentage from 3-point distance.

In their last game against Villanova, Virginia shot an impressive 56 percent from behind the arc, with Isaac McKneely going a perfect 6 for 6 and scoring a game-high 23 points. Head coach Sanchez praised McKneely's performance, stating, "He'll be the first one to tell you that he shot the ball well because his teammates passed him the ball at the right time and on target." McKneely currently leads the team with an average of 16.0 points per game.

Jacob Cofie adds 13.0 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game, while Elijah Saunders (10.3) is the third Cavalier scoring in double figures.

PREDICTION

Virginia Cavaliers

Tennessee Volunteers