Rick Barnes' 22-23 tournament record aside, the red flag here is a more traditional one as it pertains to the types of top seeds that fall early. Underdogs seize on opportunities to create — and cash in on — extra possessions. One way of doing that is through offensive rebounds. Tennessee struggles to close out possessions, ranking 266th in the nation in defensive rebounding percentage. That could be a significant issue against a Cincinnati team that seriously struggles to score at times, but is consistently excellent on the offensive glass.
The Bearcats are the No. 4 team in the nation when it comes to offensive rebounding, so while their overall offensive profile is pretty mediocre, this is the one place where they really shine. And it just so happens to be a key weakness for the No. 2 seed in the region.
One other statistic of note: The Vols' opponents have shot extremely poorly from the foul line this season, with the 12th worst shooting percentage from the stripe, collectively. That could indicate that Tennessee has been a little lucky in compiling its otherwise impressive 29-5 record.
Add in the fact that the game will be played in Columbus, Ohio, just about 90 minutes away from Cincy's campus, and this could be a problematic matchup for an otherwise very good Tennessee team if the Bearcats move on to the second round.
