As the NCAA regular season nears its end, things are beginning to heat up ahead of March Madness. Two of the finest teams in the Southeastern Conference will face off as the Tennessee Volunteers host the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. The Volunteers (21-6, 11-3) currently sit at the top of the conference standing, and facing the Tigers (21-6, 10-4), presently occupying the fourth position, will be one of their toughest tests yet.
The Tennessee Volunteers
The Thompson-Boling Arena has been a fortress for the Tennessee Volunteers, recording 13-1 on their home court. Hence, Bruce Pearl and his boys understand that getting a win on the road against one of the most consistent teams this season means they need nothing short of perfection in this contest. The Volunteers are coming into this encounter on a 4-game winning streak, with their last opponent being the same team they lost to before the streak. This time, Dalton Knecht (24 points) and Jonas Aidoo (18 points) ensured that the Tennessee Volunteers won convincingly 86-51 against the Texas A&M Aggies. With Zakai Zeigler, alongside Knecht and Aidoo, leading the squad, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them replicate their performances in this tie.
The Auburn Tigers
Bruce Pearl is arguably one of the best among the NCAA Division 1 coaches. Facing the Volunteers on Wednesday, his expertise will be much needed to steer his boys to victory. The Tigers are 4-4 on the road, with their last away loss away from homecoming against the Florida Gators on February 10. They returned to winning a road game when they beat the Georgia Bulldogs 76-97 and will look to extend their road-winning streak against the Tennessee Volunteers. While the return of one of their best performers, Jaylin Williams remains unknown, players like Chad Baker-Mazara, Johni Broome, and Chaney Johnson must step up their game against the Rick Barnes-led side. Broome and Baker-Mazara are recording 16.1 and 10.1 points per game, respectively. This explains their quality, and if they are going to upset the Volunteers, it’ll most likely come from this duo.
Head-to-Head Tennessee vs Auburn
Unsurprisingly, the Tennessee Volunteers are expected to win this encounter. However, the Auburn Tigers have a better head-to-head record in the last six games between the two, winning four compared to the Volunteers’ two (2). The previous encounter was a 79-70 win in favor of the Tigers. It was a well-contested game, with Tennessee winning the first half 34-30. The Auburn Arena lit up in the second half as the home team turned things around, winning 49-36, thanks to a Wendell Green Jr. masterclass, netting 24 points.
With Green currently a free agent, Johni Broome will seek to replicate his performance from that game and lead the Tigers to another win over the favorites. He will need to target scoring over 17 points compared to his last outing against the Volunteers.
Duke Blue Devils vs Louisville Cardinals
Another exciting encounter to watch on February 28, 2024, is between the Duke Blue Devils and the Louisville Cardinals. The Cameron Indoor Stadium will play host to this tie as the Blue Devils (21-6, 12-4) seek to close the gap between them and UNC at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
After a 5-game winning streak, Jon Scheyer’s boys lost to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. With the 83-79 win, the Demon Deacons maintained their 100% home record as they took another step to the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils Centre Kyle Filipowski made the news on the night for his brilliant performance and his injury after fans collided with him on the court. His return date remains uncertain, and his absence will be felt if he misses the game against the Cardinals.
Speaking of the Cardinals (8-19, 3-13), they’ve been really poor all season and are currently on a 3-game losing streak. Their recent loss was against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with the match ending 50-72. Bar any upset, the Blue Devils should easily make it four consecutive losses for the Cardinals.
Head-to-Head Blue Devils vs Cardinals
In the last five matches between these two sides, the Blue Devils have recorded four wins. While this seems like a good game for bettors to jump on, you must be careful with your wagers. For instance, you can set a deposit limit, guiding you through the number of bets you make for this game and other NCAA basketball fixtures.
The last game between the Cardinals and the Blue Devils in January was an easy victory for Jon Scheyer, winning 83-69 at the KFC Yum! Center. Despite Kyle Filipowski’s uncertainty ahead of the game, Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, and Jared McCain have what it takes to lead the team to another win over the visitors.
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