Tennessee Vols' Chaz Lanier might have just answered a big question about the Tennessee Vols in 2024-25
The Tennessee Vols were on the doorstep of a program first last year, led primarily by a generational-type season from first team All-American and SEC player of the year Dalton Knecht. With Knecht off to the NBA, it felt as though it would be a challenge for the Vols to recapture that lightning in a […]
The Tennessee Vols were on the doorstep of a program first last year, led primarily by a generational-type season from first team All-American and SEC player of the year Dalton Knecht.
With Knecht off to the NBA, it felt as though it would be a challenge for the Vols to recapture that lightning in a bottle this year they had last season with Knecht taking over games and almost willing the Vols to victory. Do the Vols have a player who could put the team on his back and carry them to a win when they need it?
It appears they might have just that in North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier.
Lanier, who was a highly coveted transfer portal target this offseason, delivered an impressive performance on Thursday night in the Vols' 64-42 win over Virginia in the Baha Mar Championship. The veteran guard scored 26 points on 10-23 shooting and 6-12 from beyond the arc. He proved he could score from downtown and by attacking the basket.
Lanier also spearheaded a run that turned a one-point game into a comfortable margin that the Vols would never relinquish. Lanier splashed home a three after a scoreless two and a half minutes to start the second half. That would be the first three points of eleven straight from Lanier to push Tennessee's lead to 33-24 before a different Vol even scored.
It looked a lot like the dominating stretches play that Knecht would drop to help the Vols gain control of a game. And in college basketball, teams have to have those types of players and stretches to win key games.
We'll see on Friday night if Lanier and the Vols have an encore performance when they take on #13 Baylor in the Baha Mar Championship game, with a chance to secure a big early season win for their tournament resume.
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