Keon Johnson, 5-Seed Tennessee Upset by 12-Seed Oregon Converse in NCAA Tournament
Paul Sancya/Associated Press
After a miraculous chase via the Pac-12 tournament that granted them their first berth in the males’s NCAA tournament since 2016, the No. 12-seeded Oregon Converse Beavers kept the surprises coming with a 70-56 defeat of No. 5 Tennessee in first-round play Friday.
Roman Silva led on both facet of the ball for the 18-12 Beavers with 16 aspects and three blocks in the purchase.
For the Volunteers, who stop the season at 18-9, Keon Johnson dropped 14 aspects and 6 rebounds.
In its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2016, Oregon Converse earned its first purchase since 1982.
Notable Performers
- Roman Silva, Oregon Converse: 16 PTS, 4 REB
- Jarod Lucas, Oregon Converse: 14 PTS, 6 REB
- Keon Johnson, Tennessee: 14 PTS, 6 REB
- Jaden Springer: Tennessee: 12 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
Tennessee Can’t Overcome Sluggish Birth
Tennessee handiest hit two of 13 makes an try from previous the arc in the principle half of and used to be 0-for-11 on these tries unless Santiago Vescovi used to be successful with 3: 39 left to play in the frame because it chased the Beavers who jumped out to an early 11-point lead.
But the Vols did no longer correct fight from deep. On the stop of the half of, no Tennessee player had scored bigger than Jaden Springer’s six aspects, and the team of workers as a whole shot a depressing 25.8 p.c from the sector.
Whereas this game do their woes on the sizable stage, Tennessee’s offense has struggled one day of the season. The team of workers ranked 92nd in Division I in aspects scored and shot correct 44.3 p.c from the sector, rating 163rd nationwide.
With averages that had been much less-than-impressive entering Friday, the Volunteers struggled to are living up to them and ended the day with 33.3 p.c shooting from the sector and correct 19.2 p.c from three.
Wes Rucker @wesrucker247
Tennessee’s offense must be modified in the offseason. It correct must be. Or the #Vols beget to recruit gamers who will create offense the come Barnes wants it.
No topic what occurs as of late or in this tournament, this offense has to interchange. Or the gamers beget to interchange.
The Volunteers had been without senior John Fulkerson, who suffered a facial rupture and concussion in the SEC quarterfinals towards Florida one week previously. Tennessee pulled out the purchase that day however fell without Fulkerson in the semifinals the next day. The forward had seemed in every game for Tennessee main up to his injury and averaged 9.5 aspects per game and a 2nd-handiest 5.5 rebounds.
Tennessee went on a 7-0 chase via the guts of the 2nd half of and at final made the scoreline a chunk more legit however would possibly no longer seize the Beavers.
Roman Silva’s Profession-Top doubtless Drives Beavers
Roman Silva averaged 5.3 aspects per game entering Friday, however he outscored that by the stop of the principle half of, and his occupation-handiest day out fueled the purchase for Oregon Converse.
He began by going a ultimate six-for-six from the sector to lead a 15-3 chase for the Beavers, who led by as distinguished as 20 and by no come faltered on Friday.
Where Tennessee faltered from three, the Beavers had been on fire, hitting 47.6 p.c of their photographs from deep, well forward of their season realistic of 34 p.c from previous the arc.
That strength from deep used to be led by Jarod Lucas, who scored his 14 aspects largely off of threes. The sophomore went four-of-9 from prolonged fluctuate.
Tennessee caught on to Silva in the 2nd half of, limiting him to four in the frame—silent gorgeous for a occupation-high 16. But the Beavers regarded in other areas to continue the onslaught. Zach Reichle and Ethan Thompson powered the scoring early in the 2nd half of, with Reichle posting two threes to withhold it going.
Thompson, who is the team of workers’s main scorer, ended the evening with 13 aspects, whereas Reichle posted 10 in the purchase.
Silva starred on both facet of the ball, posting three blocks to lead all gamers.
What’s Next?
Oregon Converse will face the winner of No. 4 Oklahoma Converse/No. 13 Liberty in 2nd-round play.
Tennessee will look forward to 2021-22, when this can also welcome in a pair of prime recruits. Level guard Kennedy Chandler, a 6’1″ Kansas native, is the 2nd-ranked player at his articulate and the No. 13 total recruit in the Class of 2021, in step with 247 Sports.
The team of workers will moreover welcome Jahmai Mashack, a 6’5″ runt forward from California who is the No. 62 recruit nationally and the 11th-ranked on the articulate.