Dalton Knecht just had a performance for the ages in Tennessee's 92-84 win over Auburn
I don't know if there's a way to prove it or qualify it, but Dalton Knecht perhaps just had the most impressive stretch of play in the history of Tennessee basketball. Knecht netted 25 of his season-high 39 points in the game's final 12 minutes to will the Volunteers to a 92-84 win over the […]
I don't know if there's a way to prove it or qualify it, but Dalton Knecht perhaps just had the most impressive stretch of play in the history of Tennessee basketball.
Knecht netted 25 of his season-high 39 points in the game's final 12 minutes to will the Volunteers to a 92-84 win over the Auburn Tigers at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Trailing 63-55, Tennessee desperately needed a spark on the offensive end, and Knecht provided just that for the Vols. A long three brought the Vols to within five. Then a nifty pass from Jonas Aidoo to Knecht led to a thunderous slam, and the Tennessee crowd came to life. Another Knecht three finally pulled the Vols even at 66, and then a high-rising jumper over a defender put Tennessee up for good at 71-69.
And if his point hadn't been made by then, he added an exclamation point to help the Vols pull away.
By the time the Vols dribbled out the game's final seconds, Knecht had scored 25 points since the Vols were down 63-55 with 12 minutes left. Auburn had scored 21.
It was the kind of play that a school might see once a generation. Perhaps even less frequently than that. Without question, Knecht's individual scoring ability is the best this writer has seen in his decades of watching Tennessee basketball. Chris Lofton is the best pure shooter for Tennessee I've watched. One of the greatest in college basketball history.
But Knecht's offensive game is on another level. With his shooting range, driving ability, and touch around the rim, there's nowhere on the floor he can't score from. That's why Jimmy Dykes on the broadcast mentioned him as possibly the first college player selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.
And that's a huge luxury for Tennessee when they get into win-or-go-home games in the second half of March. Having a scorer who everyone can clear the floor for and watch him put the team on his back. That's the difference between a two-and-out or Sweet Sixteen showing and a trip to the Final Four.
That's exactly what Knecht did on Wednesday night against an Auburn team who will clearly be a tough out in March. It had the feel of an NCAA tournament game.
And if that's how the NCAA tournament is going to go, Tennessee could be in the best hands they've ever been in as a program.
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