Tennessee basketball is set for another top 15 matchup as they host Missouri in Knoxville on Wednesday night.
The 15th-ranked Tigers have won sic of their last seven games while Tennessee is looking to build off Saturday’s win over Florida with another strong showing.
Here’s three things I’m watching for in the matchup.
More From RTI: Zakai Zeigler To Return From Injury For Tennessee Basketball Against Missouri
Can Tennessee Slow Down Missouri’s Three-Point Attack
Missouri has been a good offensive team all season but they’ve been particularly effective offensively in SEC play. They’ve done it by bombing three-pointers.
The Tigers are taking 46% of their shots from three-point range in SEC play and for good reason as they’re making over 39% from deep. Missouri has a number of players that can hurt you from deep with a trio shooting over 39% from deep with Caleb Grill shooting 49% from deep.
Missouri is similar to Kentucky in that they don’t have one go-to scorer, instead relying on a multitude of players to score while shooting a lot of triples. The Vols struggled against Kentucky’s offense a week ago making this a fantastic bounce back test.
Tennessee has the nation’s best three-point defense and Missouri will put it to the test. It has to be a complete team defensive effort from the Vols.
Will Zakai Zeigler Be His Normal Self?
After missing Saturday’s game against Florida, senior point guard Zakai Zeigler will return to the court against Missouri.
The Vols found a way to do enough to survive offensively without Zeigler against Florida but will have their lead-man back against a shaky Missouri defense.
Will Zeigler look like himself just eight days after suffering a knee injury? It’s going to be important that he does given Missouri’s effectiveness forcing turnovers. I also wonder whether Tennessee will look to get more off ball movement in this game and depend less on Zeigler in ball screen actions.
Either way, Tennessee needs Zeigler back and making stuff happen. If he can knock down some perimeter shots then all the better.
Can Tennessee Dominate The Offensive Glass?
Missouri has been a good but not great offensive rebounding team and a slightly below average defensive rebounding team this season.
Tennessee’s most consistent offensive trait has been its ability to get offensive rebounds and score on second chance opportunities. When the Vols are at their best, they’re typically controlling the glass on both sides of the court.
Missouri plays just two players players over 6-foot-6 and one doesn’t play huge minutes. The Tigers also run an aggressive trapping defense at points. Both gives Tennessee a chance to have success on the glass in this game.
