NCAA Tournament Preview: Tennessee vs. Louisville

It's Week 2 of March Madness and the premier game of the Sweet Sixteen will be played Thursday night in the East Bracket of the NCAA Tournament.

Louisville fans will tell you that the SEC is a football conference with a couple of basketball teams. And where are these teams in this year's NCAA Tournament? Last year's NCAA Tournament Champion Florida Gators are playing in the NIT. Kentucky made an early exit from the 2008 NCAA Tournament along with Vanderbilt. North Carolina's decisive victory over Arkansas in the early brackets of the 2008 NCAA Tournament adds to the argument that the SEC should stick to football.

But wait, let's not forget a couple of other SEC representatives. Georgia did not fall to Xavier without a fight. Mississippi State did more than hang tough with Memphis.

But coulda, shoulda, woulda leaves Tennessee the lone representative from the SEC remaining in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee

What have we seen from them in the NCAA Tournament so far? Lackluster performances in wins over American and Butler. Chris Lofton is not lofting three's. The point guard play is by committee of three. Yet, they win.

A sad fact, Tennessee's best opportunity to advance to the Elite Eight may have passed them by when they squandered a 20-point lead against Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen match-up of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Here's betting they won't see a 20-point lead against Louisville.

Before you write them off, however, consider this. During the regular season Tennessee played five teams currently in the Sweet Sixteen - West Virginia, Texas, Western Kentucky, Xavier, and Memphis - all on the road. They beat every one but Texas. A couple of these games were played without major contributors Duke Crews or J.P. Prince. In two of those games, Xavier and Memphis, Lofton failed to score in double digits.

That's the thing about Tennessee. Shut down Lofton and someone else steps up. Jajuan Smith. Tyler Smith. Shut them down and out of the corner of your eye you will see Wayne Chism shooting a three. He can hit them when you least expect it, too.

Louisville

They come with a resume and they come with the only coach, Rick Pitino, to lead three different teams to the Final Four. The Cardinals have appeared in 34 NCAA tournaments and 8 Final Fours. They have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Vols. They are confident, they are experienced, and they made beating their first two NCAA Tournament opponents, Boise State and Oklahoma, look easy.

Louisville is a balanced team that is playing as well as anyone in the NCAA Tournament. Terrence Williams, the Louisville Cardinals leader in scoring, rebounding, and assists is as good as they come. Watch for their big man, David Padgett, to make things difficult on the inside. Look for the Louisville defense to come with pressure. If Louisville can stop Tennessee from shooting the 3, they will be able to control the inside game and the win. If they are able to make this a half-court battle, Louisville wins big.

Louisville has this NCAA Tournament game in the bag. On paper, anyway.

And that's why they call the NCAA Tournament March Madness.

Winner

This game is for the lil 'ol SEC football school that could. Tennessee by one in a nail-biter, 77-76.

Resources:
UT Sports Information, Tennessee is making only its Fifth Sweet Sixteen appearance, VolunteerTV.com
Wikipedia, Louisville Cardinals Mens Basketball
Peter Fiutak, Fearless Predictions for the Round of 16, Fox Sports on MSN
Louisville Men's Basketball Player Bio, Terrence Williams, CSTV.com