Tennessee faces South Florida in NCAA Tournament opener

The NCAA Tournament kicks off with a matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Florida Bulls. This first-round game will take place in Columbus, Ohio, at 8 p.m. EDT on Friday. Tennessee, ranked 20th, has a record of 22 wins and 9 losses, with an even 9-9 in the SEC. They performed well in non-conference play, going 13-0. The Volunteers are known for scoring effectively in the paint, averaging 40.7 points there, with Talaysia Cooper leading the way. On the other hand, South Florida has a record of 23-10, including 16-4 in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). They rank eighth in their conference for defensive rebounds, with Carla Brito at the helm. The Bulls average 66 points per game, which is less than what Tennessee's opponents typically score against them. Tennessee scores 43.8% of the time from the field, which is higher than the average allowed by South Florida's defense. Recent performances show Tennessee winning 6 of their last 10 games and averaging 79 points per game. Meanwhile, the Bulls have won 8 of their last 10, scoring an average of 68 points. Key players for Tennessee include Cooper, who averages nearly 17 points per game, while for South Florida, Jewel Spear and Sammie Puisis are notable for their scoring.