Vols Set to Take On Miami (OH) in NCAA Tournament First Round

Image: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

PHILADELPHIA – Those boys from Oxford, Ohio in Miami County can SHOOT it.

No. 6 seed Tennessee is set to take on No. 11 seed Miami (OH) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Philadelphia, drawing the most explosive mid-major in the field after the Redhawks’ 89-79 FIrst Four win over SMU in Dayton. 

If Wednesday night was your first look at Miami (OH), the volume of threes probably stunned you. The Redhawks attempted 41 of them, hitting 16 at a 39% clip, and that isn’t an outlier. Miami (OH), sitting at 32-1, has been launching from deep all season and won’t slow down against Tennessee. The Redhawks average 27 three-point attempts per game, knocking down at over 39%, and rank second nationally in scoring at 90.7 PPG, trailing only Alabama. 

Tennessee enters with the opposite identity. The Vols finished the regular season top‑60 nationally in scoring defense, allowing fewer than 70 points per game, and will need that discipline to survive a Miami (OH) team that can flip a game in a two‑minute shooting stretch.

The Vols are also looking to reset after a disappointing showing in the SEC Tournament, falling 75–68 to Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals. Duke Miles torched Tennessee for 30 points, and the Vols shot just 61% from the free‑throw line, a number that simply won’t cut it against a Miami (OH) offense that executes on empty possessions. 

Tennessee’s defensive rotations, free throw shooting, and ability to run shooters off the line will define this matchup. The Vols absolutely cannot have this turn into a track meet. Whoever dictates the tempo will likely see the Round of 32.

Tipoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on TBS, with the winner advancing to face the winner of Virginia vs. Wright State on Sunday.