'They're tough': Tennessee's physicality left its mark on Duke

ORLANDO — Asked about Tennessee’s physicality Saturday night, Duke’s Kyle Filipowski had to go all the way back to November. The Blue Devils were in Portland for the Phil Knight Legacy tournament and, after taking care of Oregon State and Xavier over the previous two days, got blitzed by Purdue, 75-56.

“We weren’t really at our best when we played Purdue,” Filipowski, Duke’s freshman 7-footer, said, “and that was at the beginning of the season.”

Before meeting the Vols in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center, Purdue was as physical an opponent as Duke had seen all season.

“Aside from Purdue,” Filipowski said, “I’d probably say that Tennessee was the next, if not the most, physical team that we’ve played all year, aside from all the conference games. That’s no hit on any of the teams we’ve played. That was just saying how physical Tennessee was today.”

Vols won rebounding, turnover battle in win over Duke in second round

Tennessee, in its 65-52 win over Duke to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, outrebounded one of the best rebounding teams in college basketball, 35-30. The Vols allowed only six offensive rebounds to the 10th best offensive rebounding team in the country and scored 12 second-chance points off of 12 of their own offensive boards.

The Vols had four turnovers in the first eight minutes, then had only five more over the final 32 minutes. They scored 18 points off 15 Duke turnovers and finished the game with eight steals and five blocks.

“They played an outstanding game,” first-year Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “They’re incredibly well-coached. They’re tough. They’ve been through it before. They made some big-time plays … really felt like a Sweet 16, Elite 8 game type of game. 

“They’re really good, and credit them, they shoot almost 50 (percent) from three, and (Olivier) Nkamhoua has one of his best games, maybe his best game ever, and you’ve got to tip your hat to him.”

Up Next: Tennessee vs. Florida Atlantic or Fairleigh Dickinson, Sweet Sixteen, Thursday

Nkamhoua scored 27 points, Santiago Vescovi had 14 points, going 4-for-8 from the 3-point line, and Josiah-Jordan James added seven points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“He’s been a really good player,” Scheyer said on Nkamhoua. “He hasn’t been the leading scorer. Vescovi is a key guy. He draws a lot of attention the way he moves and cuts without the ball and they set hard screens for him.”

Nkamhoua’s 27 points matched a career high set against Texas earlier this season, going 10-for-13 from the floor, 3-for-4 from the 3-point line, 4-for-5 from the foul line and grabbing five rebounds.

“Olivier, credit him,” Scheyer said. “I thought he hit some really tough shots. There were some contested shots in the paint. He hit three threes. I don’t know if he hit three threes, but he obviously worked and an experienced player. 

“You’ve got to give him all the credit in the world. I thought he played a great game. But sometimes that happens. Unfortunately, a player rises to the occasion, and you have to give him credit.”