Show Me My Opponent, 2023 NCAA Tournament: (13) Louisiana-Lafayette

you gotta say it like Ruhrrjun Currjuns for the full effect

After falling prior to the SEC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2017, Tennessee enters March in a fascinating position. The metrics all say they’re a top-eight team at worst with an unusually favorable bracket draw, but the eyes don’t always match those numbers. Most figured they’d take a hit on offense after Zakai Zeigler’s injury, but it’s the defense who’s taken the larger punch in the mouth. Beyond this game - which most seem to expect Tennessee to win, minus national media members - no one really has much of an idea what to expect of Tennessee in March.

Meanwhile, they draw 13-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette, the Sun Belt champion that had their own February lull (lost three of four) before recovering in the conference tournament. Of the available 13 seeds, drawing one that doesn’t attempt many threes, has poor rim protection, and commits a lot of fouls seems ideal. This is also the NCAA Tournament, where nobody knows anything and the name of the game is Loser Machine.

But: pretty ideal draw. This is a middling defense that feeds everything on offense through one guy in the post, which has…not been a great formula against Tennessee. If you show up enough times eventually the dice fall your way, or something. I don’t gamble.

BELOW THE LINE ($): they are raging and they are CAJUN