Tennessee Volunteers vs Louisiana -Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Predictions: Tennessee are the heavyweights here

The NCAA March Madness brings to us many vital memories and we have to keep a keen eye on every battle as the raging battle in the tourney often brings us close affairs. Thus, the starting point itself will be full of big-time close affairs to mark the beginning of something special. In this first round NCAA March Madness game, Tennessee Voluteers counter the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

The Volunteers finished with a record of 23 wins and 10 losses, earning a fourth berth in SEC MBB. They were fourth in the East and made defense their calling card. They conceded just 58 points a game, which was the thid best effort in the nation among the 300+ teams. They allowed teams to shoot just 26.2% from the deep, which was the best effort in all of the nation. Offensively, they averaged 71.8 points a game, placing them right in the middle in terms of ranking. Santiago Vescovi led the way, averaging almost 13 points while bunch of other players averaged around 10. The team isn’t known for an ace-type of offense.

Louisiana-Lafayette finished with 26 wins and seven losses but unlike Tennessee, they were in the Sun Belt Conference which is a level below the SEC MBB. But that doesn’t diminish what Ragin’ Cajuns at all. They have a solid shooting team with precise shot selection, enabling them to shoot 48.4%, which was among the top 20 teams in the nation. Jordan Brown, their 6’11’’ big led from the front, averaging over 19 points and close to nine rebounds. The defense was a bit of an issue for the squad.

• OUT: Tennesse: Zakai Zegler;
• Louisiana-Lafayette: None.

Tennesse has a storied history of making deep runs and their tough brand of defense is well-suited for the tourney. The Volunteers will have to stall the charge of Jordan Brown and if they do stop them, the season is perhaps curtains for the Ragin’ Cajuns. I predict a win by 7+ points for Tennesse.