Stanford vs Tennessee (-1, play to -2.5) - #533-534 - Maui Invitational - 8:15pm Pacific

Tennessee is loaded this year.  They return all five starters, two key reserves, add a UCLA transfer, and plus a freshman who was named Kentucky's "Mr. Basketball" in 2004.  Three of the starters averaged in double figures last season.  6-10 senior F/C Brandon Crump is in his 5th year with the program and his numbers have improved each year.  He can score, rebound, and block shots.  He could be poised for a breakout year.  Fellow senior G/F Scooter McFadgon is an explosive scorer.  He transferred from Memphis and in his first year with the team led the Vols in scoring at 17.6ppg.  He is equally dangerous shooting or slashing and should be much more comfortable in his second season here.  Junior point guard C.J. Watson gives Tennessee a third standout player.  Watson is probably the best pure point guard in the SEC. He averaged 11.5ppg and 5.0apg a year ago.  UCLA transfer Andrae Patterson brings a much needed toughness and defensive mindset to the frontcourt.  He will not put up big offensive numbers but he is a ferocious rebounder and physical defender which is exactly what this team lacked last season.  Freshman guard Chris Lofton has earned the starting two guard job.  Head coach Peterson calls him perhaps the best shooter he has ever coached.  That leaves Tennessee with an abundance of quality depth.  Junior G/F Stanley Asumnu is best known for defense but chipped in 5.2ppg last year, sophomore guard Dane Bradshaw earned a starting job late in the season last year for his hustle and heady play.  6-10 sophomore Major Wingate (SEC all freshman team last year) and 6-8 junior Jemrere Hendrix (6.2ppg, 6.8rpg last year) are very good post players, both good enough to start on most teams.

 

Stanford's top three scorers and top two rebounders from last year have departed.  They also lost a dependable front court reserve and their head coach Mike Montgomery.  Much of the talent, athleticism, and heart & soul of this team is gone.  The team is still very serviceable but not at the same level we have seen them in recent years.  Meanwhile, starting forward Matt Haryasz is battling a foot ailment that only allows him to play about 25 minutes.  New head coach Trent Johnson's debut a few days ago vs San Francisco was not very pretty.  The Cardinal needed OT and a ridiculous 42 free throw attempts to finally win.  The game was played rather sloppily as it was USF's first game under new head coach Jesse Evans and his up and down style.

 

As evidenced by Tennessee returning all five starters and seven of their top eight players from a year ago, senior leadership was sorely lacking last year.  With leading scorers Crump and McFadgon now seniors, and point guard Watson now a third year starter, leadership should be much improved this year.  This is a hungry team with more overall talent and experience than Stanford.  Give the small number.

 

Tennessee  -1  1 UNIT