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Key Takeaways:
- The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to bounce back from a 91-67 loss to Florida, with a focus on improving their ball security and reducing turnovers.
- The Volunteers have struggled in conference play, with losses to Arkansas and Florida, and a win over Texas.
- Texas A&M is on a hot streak, with 11 wins in their last 12 games, and a strong defense that has limited opponents to low shooting percentages.
- The Aggies’ defense has been a key factor in their success, with a strong performance in their last game against Oklahoma.
- Tennessee coach Rick Barnes is taking responsibility for the team’s poor performance, saying "I’ll take the blame for it, because I don’t know if I’ve had a team to play that bad and do the things and make the decisions they made from out of bounds, those type things."
Introduction to the Teams’ Recent Performances
The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to rebound from a disappointing loss to Florida, where they were defeated 91-67. The team’s coach, Rick Barnes, was not happy with the performance, citing a high number of turnovers as a major factor in the loss. "I’ll take the blame for it, because I don’t know if I’ve had a team to play that bad and do the things and make the decisions they made from out of bounds, those type things," Barnes said. The Volunteers have struggled in conference play, with losses to Arkansas and Florida, and a win over Texas. They will look to turn things around when they host Texas A&M on Tuesday.
Tennessee’s Struggles with Turnovers
The Volunteers’ loss to Florida was marked by a high number of turnovers, with 12 in the first half and 18 overall. This lack of ball security has been a problem for the team all season, and Barnes is taking responsibility for not preparing his team adequately. "We’re not tough enough yet as a team when things aren’t going our way to know how to fight through it," Barnes said. The team’s inability to hold onto the ball has led to easy baskets for their opponents, and has put a lot of pressure on their defense. As Barnes noted, "You can’t win this game on hope. You can’t. And give (the Gators) all the credit. After that, the last four minutes (of the half and on), they controlled the game and did what they wanted to do."
Texas A&M’s Strong Defense
On the other hand, Texas A&M is on a hot streak, with 11 wins in their last 12 games. The Aggies’ defense has been a key factor in their success, with a strong performance in their last game against Oklahoma. The Aggies limited the Sooners to 4-of-20 shooting in the game’s final minutes, and held them under 80 points for only the sixth time this season. As Aggies coach Bucky McMillan noted, "I thought our guys were fresh in the game late. We were better defensively in the halfcourt in the second half because our guys took their matchups personally." The Aggies’ defense has been stellar all season, and they will look to continue their strong play when they face the Volunteers on Tuesday.
Upcoming Matchup
The matchup between Tennessee and Texas A&M will be a crucial one for both teams. The Volunteers are looking to get back on track after a tough loss, while the Aggies are looking to continue their winning streak. The game will be a test of the Volunteers’ ability to take care of the ball and limit turnovers, while the Aggies will look to continue their strong defensive play. As Barnes noted, "At some point in time, you got to take a deep look within yourself as coaches, as players, and say, ‘OK, something’s got to change here.’" The game will be a key one for both teams, and will have a big impact on their conference standings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Tennessee Volunteers are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Florida, while Texas A&M is on a hot streak with 11 wins in their last 12 games. The Volunteers will need to improve their ball security and reduce turnovers if they want to have a chance against the Aggies. The Aggies’ strong defense will be a key factor in the game, and the Volunteers will need to be able to score efficiently if they want to come out on top. As the teams prepare to face off on Tuesday, it will be a crucial game for both teams, with a lot on the line in terms of conference standings and momentum.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/no-21-tennessee-eyes-turnaround-vs-surging-texas-a-m/