5 keys for Illinois basketball to beat the Tennessee Volunteers

2. Put Kylan Boswell on Chaz Lanier

Tennessee, obviously, has a really good team. They are 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country. The leader of this really good team is Chaz Lanier.

Lanier is a newcomer to the Vols program after spending four seasons with North Florida. He transferred in and hasn’t missed a beat. Besides for rebounds, Lanier has essentially the same numbers, which includes averaging 19.1 points per game.

An eye-popping number from Lanier comes from the three-point shooting department. He is averaging 8.0 three-point attempts per game and hits them at a clip of 48.6%. That is outrageous. Steph Curry’s jaw would hit the floor with that type of shooting.

I think it would be smart for Illinois to throw Kylan Boswell at Lanier defensively. Over the past few games, you could see Boswell’s defensive effort increase greatly. He has been hounding him man on the perimeter each game, and it has been effective.

It is that type of effort that has Illinois only allowing opponents to shoot 26.5% from three-point range for the season. Boswell has been the leader when it comes to defense, and he would give Lanier fits.

The only issue that may arise is that Lanier is a bit taller. He checks in at 6-foot-4 and Boswell is 6-foot-2. Regardless, I think the way Boswell bodies his opponent will be tough for Lanier. I want to see Boswell on Lanier throughout the game.