ETSU Preview

ETSU enters their game against Tennessee at 8-5, having won 6 of their last 7. Their only loss in their last 7 games came at Vanderbilt, with a score of 104-62. The Buccaneers are led by sophomore Courtney Pigram’s 16 points a game. Pigram is averaging 2.6 steals per game, while turning the ball over 3.8 times per game. He is shooting 36% from behind the arc, while firing up twice as many 3’s as anybody else on the team. The Bucs are led down low by Center Brad Nuckles who is averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. Both Nuckles and Pigram are the only two players for the Bucs who average over 31 minutes per game. The Bucs have played 7 players for every game this season, with 9 players averaging over 10 minutes a game.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

This game will be a nice showdown between two players that love to shoot the three. Both Courtney Pigram and Chris Lofton have shot over 100 3’s on the season which puts them with an average right around 8 three point attempts per game. One of the things that could come back to haunt the Buccaneers is their rebounding. The Bucs are getting out rebounded by an average of 2 rebounds per game, and are giving up 15 offensive rebounds per game. The Vols are averaging picking up 15 offensive rebounds per game. Those that have watched the Vols know that that is one of the strengths of the team this year. That could be bad news for the Bucs. If the Vols are able to get their missed shots and get put backs, this game could get ugly like their game against Vandy did.

Projected Starting Lineups:

ETSU

PG – 6’2” # 23 Tayloe Taylor
SG – 6’0” #3 Courtney Pigram
SF – 6’6” #20 Eryk Thomas
PF – 6’8” #35 Andrew Reed
C – 6’9” #51 Brad Nuckles

Tennessee

PG – 6’2” #12 Ramar Smith
SG – 6’2” #5 Chris Lofton
SF – 6’2” #2 JaJuan Smith
PF – 6’4” #23 Dane Bradshaw
C – 6’7” #32 Duke Crews