Yahoo Autos What Duke players said about Tennessee basketball, NCAA Tournament matchup
ORLANDO, Fla. − Tennessee basketball is a win away from the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 4 seed Vols (24-10) face No. 5-seeded Duke (27-8) on Saturday (2:40 p.m. ET, CBS). Here is what the Blue Devils said Friday about the matchup with the Vols:
Dereck Lively II
On Tennessee's strengths
“They are really a banging team. They really get down in the post. They bang down low. They are really physical. That is something we have seen before. That is something we have seen before. That is something we have become accustomed to. We have had to adapt to the physicality.”
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Tyrese Proctor
On if Tennessee reminds him of anyone the Blue Devils faced
“They are a really physical team. In terms of, like, physicality, I would probably put them with Xavier and Purdue. Virginia is a physical team as well. I think that is what separates them from a lot of teams is just how physical they are. They get in the paint and are so paint-oriented, I think that complements them with Purdue a little bit as well.”
Dariq Whitehead
On what Tennessee does well
“They are a great defensive team. They were a top-five offensive-rebounding team. We have to keep them off the boards and limit them to one shot and guard the way we have been guarding the past two months.”
On how Tennessee and Duke are similar
“They are a great team just like we are a great team. They are a great offensive rebounding team, but we are a great offensive rebounding team. Everyone is praising their defense. I feel like for the past two months we have been one of the best defensive teams in the country.”
Jeremy Roach
On how Santiago Vescovi challenges opposing defenses
“He can play make and he shoots it quick. He gets it off quick. He is running off multiple screens. He has flare actions, floppy actions. He has a lot of ways he can get the ball and a lot of ways he can score the ball. We just want to make it as tough as possible for him. We have seen guys like that before. Guys like (Miami guard) Nijel Pack, just different guys you play that you have to be with at all times. It will be big for us.”
On if Tennessee reminds him of anyone the Blue Devils faced
“They are probably the most unique team, from my experience. They are kind of like a Texas Tech from last year. They are big and really physical. Even their guards are like 6-5, 6-6. They kind of remind me a lot of that.”
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What Duke players said about Tennessee basketball, March Madness game
