For the Irish, I think the key is how they play Mercedes Russell and Jamie Nared.
Both play more than 30 minutes per game and are the top two shot-takers on the team (Nared has taken 241 attempts...nearly 50 more than Russell, who is second on the team).
And both average more than 8 rebounds per game.
Russell, at 6'6", is getting most of those shots very close to the hoop, so the Irish have to find ways of keeping her a bit more away from the hoop or making her path there that much more difficult. Maybe that 2-3 zone is a bit more like a 2-1-2 with the middle paying attention to Ms. Russell. Besides Sheppard, I would also expect to see Koko Nelson to try some body-to-body pressure. Offensively, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Irish go at Russell in the forms of drives to try to get her in foul trouble. Plus, some quick hitting passes. For all of Mabrey's dribbling challenges, she is at her best in half-court sets and delivers some excellent entry passes to Sheppard.
Nared is the leader of the team and while she's scoring 17.6 points per game, she's not shooting particularly well...39% overall and 28% from three. My gut would be -- first and foremost -- limit open looks as much as possible so she does not get her confidence going. And, along those lines, hand-in-face, hip-to-hip while she's cutting through the lane. Throw off the shooting concentration. Keep track of her in the zone and -- if the Irish go man -- get Jackie Young on her most of the time. Maybe Dani Patterson can spell her.
Yes, I've read about the Tennessee frosh are playing well for the Vols. But the Irish should concentrate on their leaders first and then see if the frosh can overcome playing on an away court in a very pressurized atmosphere. The game is near a sellout and will be loud. This is the only home game in which the Irish are playing a ranked team (all the rest were on away or neutral courts), so the home crowd will be into it.
As for the Irish, they've got to balance that fine line between playing some degree of defense without getting into foul trouble. And, as MM pointed out repeatedly this week, play hard. Win those 50-50s!
The other element is if UT follows Louisville's lead and puts pressure on the Irish bringing the ball up court. If so, I'd expect to see Shep and/or Kat Westbeld come to half court to help out by taking passes and/or setting screens...I don't believe Russell will not follow up court.
Interesting development for the Irish...the boys practice team returned to campus this week to mimic the other team and basically push the Irish. Besides giving the Irish enough people to practice against, the boys are good players -- they won the Bookstore Basketball Tournament last year, which has nearly 40% of all ND's undergrads participate. Could help sharpen the Irish.
BTW, this should be an interesting game for Danielle Patterson. Remember she was a huge Candace Parker fan growing up and the Vols were finalists for her services, along with the Irish. Will be interesting to see how she reacts going against the Irish.
