Tennessee Vols show in just half a week why they could win it all or lose in their first game in March
College basketball is a fickle thing at times. It's a really tough sport to be up for from game to game, week to week. Great performances are often followed by down ones, just as the games themselves are a contest of streaks and runs. The Tennessee Vols were a perfect example of that in the […]
College basketball is a fickle thing at times. It's a really tough sport to be up for from game to game, week to week. Great performances are often followed by down ones, just as the games themselves are a contest of streaks and runs.
The Tennessee Vols were a perfect example of that in the strongest of terms on Saturday and more recently Tuesday evening. Tennessee was dominant in their 76-52 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday in Knoxville. The Vols outrebounded the Razorbacks 51-29, with 24 of them coming on the offensive glass. It was the team's finest showing of the season. When this team is on, they're on.
However, it didn't take long for their worst performance of the season to show up, which it did in a 73-43 embarrassment against #8 Florida on Tuesday night. Where Tennessee was physical and dominating their last time out, they were absolutely whipped in the paint and on the glass by the Gators.
But what was more concerning was Tennessee's complete and total lack of offense for the game. It's one thing to face a hounding defense and have a hard time getting looks. This team had plenty against the Gators, and they just kept missing at a rate you rarely see. Tennessee finished the first half 0-14 from three and 4-28 overall, marking one of the worst shooting performances in program history if not the worst.
And that's what I'm getting at as far as how that type of performance is worrisome for March.
In the tournament, one off night from the field means adios to your season. That is, unless you're one of those handful of programs who has a scorer who can put everyone on his back and will them across the finish line on an off-night shooting.
Dalton Knecht was that guy last year for Tennessee. He carried the Vols to victory time and again when the team got in ruts – like at Georgia and at home against Auburn. Even when the Vols lost – such as at UNC and vs Purdue – he still kept them in the game.
That type of player was nowhere to be found to even give Tennessee somewhat of a spark or some fight in Gainesville, and the result was extremely ugly. The SEC is going to be a buzzsaw this year, with the possibility of the league landing a record number of teams in the NCAA Tournament when all is said and done. There will be plenty of opportunity for Chaz Lanier and others to show they can come up with clutch moments in big games.
But until then, one has to wonder who can bail this Tennessee team out when it's in a tough spot. Because right now, it's tough to see after Tuesday.
Current Tennessee Vols assistant coach reportedly interested in another job that just opened
Would be a big loss for the Vols
