NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A number of snippets of basketball awfulness work to inform the story of the worst the Tennessee Volunteers have performed all season, however let’s go along with this from Friday’s 73-56 loss to Mississippi State within the SEC event quarterfinals:
Star scorer Dalton Knecht makes a pleasant transfer to get into the lane, giving himself a transparent path to a layup. However he blows it, the ball grazing the rim earlier than hitting the glass, so he has to attempt to tip it again in — offensive goaltending. 5 seconds later, Mississippi State freshman Josh Hubbard has dribbled previous Vols strain however is a bit uncontrolled and places a shot off the backboard that has no likelihood. Relatively than rebound it, Tennessee massive man Tobe Awaka blocks it because it comes off the glass — defensive goaltending.
It was that type of day. Really, it was worse — these are type examples of the ineptitude the Vols made their followers, who packed Bridgestone Enviornment however didn’t get an opportunity to sound prefer it, witness. Possibly they did them a stable. Possibly this was a good warning of what’s to come back, after a lot discuss of the primary No. 1 seed and Last 4 in program historical past.
“If we exit and do this once more,” Tennessee level guard Zakai Zeigler mentioned, “it’s gonna be the top of the season.”
“If we go on the market and do this once more, it is gonna be the top of the season.” – Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler after the top-seeded Vols’ lopsided loss to Mississippi State within the SEC Event quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/HaPfeKw6P6
— The Subsequent Spherical (@NextRoundLive) March 15, 2024
Possibly this would be the factor the Vols level again to, a useful humbling, after resetting and getting again to themselves subsequent weekend, virtually definitely in Charlotte as a No. 2 seed within the NCAA Event. Even when that’s the case and so they attain the Candy 16, not getting a No. 1 seed means they could must see Connecticut or Purdue within the second weekend. And Friday was a evident have a look at why they should keep away from what each these groups have: dominant bigs.
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However that appears so distant proper now, doesn’t it? The instant mission is to keep away from catastrophe, which is what failing to advance previous the primary NCAA weekend could be for Rick Barnes and his workforce. Any No. 15 seed within the historical past of the event would signal as much as play that model of the Vols.
“We simply weren’t able to go,” senior guard Josiah-Jordan James mentioned, in a regarding admission.
“I really feel like we got here into the sport simply considering we had been gonna win the sport,” junior middle Jonas Aidoo mentioned, in one other one.
“I instructed them, I mentioned, ‘Let’s simply sit right here and take into consideration how we really feel proper now,’” Barnes mentioned of the postgame deal with to his gamers. “‘Let’s simply speak about it, sit right here and marinate in how you’re feeling proper now. When you really feel like this once more, it’s over. I need you to not neglect proper now what you probably did.’”
As a lot as one stinker in a convention event for the regular-season champion doesn’t undo what’s been carried out and might’t foretell what’s to come back within the event that issues most, I actually didn’t like what I noticed from the Vols (24-8) on Friday. Not the weak point and lack of knowledge inside towards the nice Tolu Smith. Not the turning down of open photographs and clanking of unhealthy ones. Not the Bulldogs’ stunning potential to drive to the basket every time, towards whomever.
Mississippi State (21-12) will get a nod, after all, and an NCAA bid for positive. Smith’s presence had the Vols in rotation earlier than the sport even began, and capturing star Hubbard (18 factors) and lengthy slasher Cameron Matthews (18 factors, seven makes on seven 2-point tries) took benefit. The Bulldogs swarmed the ball as they love to do, forcing 14 turnovers and by no means letting Aidoo or Awaka get comfy. MSU is a troublesome matchup for Tennessee, which is why MSU is 2-0 towards Tennessee.
“Actually felt our solely likelihood was to hit them within the mouth,” Bulldogs coach Chris Jans mentioned. “We needed to come out and assault them, simply get our toughness within the sport and see if we might rattle them a bit of bit. Our plan was tremendous aggressive in all the pieces we had been doing defensively, and even offensively for that matter.”
Great things on their half. Nevertheless it’s arduous to grasp how that labored so properly, how the Vols went all glass-jaw in response, in spite of everything they’ve carried out this season to earn belief. They misplaced early-season video games to Purdue (dominant massive man), Kansas (ditto) and North Carolina (ditto) however had been in each sport till the top. They received the SEC — certainly one of two dominant leagues within the sport this season together with the Massive 12 — outright regardless of enjoying three of the opposite prime 4 groups twice every.
Tennessee went into Alabama and held the then-most-efficient offense within the sport and not using a basket for 9 minutes. Tennessee went to South Carolina and out-toughed the hardest workforce within the league. This can be a top-five defensive effectivity workforce and a top-25 offensive effectivity workforce, with a lottery choose who scores at will, a bulldog level guard in Zeigler and skilled help in all the precise spots.
However the lottery choose was taking too many fast, contested photographs Friday, and his teammates had been too typically hesitating on in-rhythm alternatives that wanted to go up however didn’t. Knecht ended up 4-for-17 (2-for-9 from 3-point vary) for 14 factors. Tennessee was an unpleasant 8-for-33 from distance.
“Why isn’t Dalton Knecht within the NPOY dialog??”
The reply: pic.twitter.com/FXVXRSuSXU
— Mark Titus Present (@MarkTitusShow) March 15, 2024
Defensively, the Vols had been staying connected to poor shooters relatively than being within the gaps like they usually are on drivers. They had been on the receiving finish of 4 dunks — it felt like extra — and 15 layups because of this.
Poise and focus, two of this workforce’s constant traits and two of probably the most invaluable commodities for any workforce this month, eluded the Vols. That’s troubling. As is a veteran workforce letting capturing struggles result in uncharacteristic defensive gaffes.
“By no means, form or kind ought to making or lacking photographs have an effect on our protection,” mentioned UT junior guard Jahmai Mashack, who was largely himself with a stable sport Friday. “I feel that has rather a lot to do with what went on on this sport. I feel it received to our heads. That may’t occur in basketball, man. You may’t be good.”
Mentioned Zeigler: “Can’t let that occur, and that positively occurred as we speak.”
Offensive ills have carried out in earlier Tennessee groups underneath Barnes in March, although to be correct, he received this event two years in the past, and he’s 6-5 within the NCAA Event with two Candy 16s with the Vols. That’s inferior to it needs to be, however let’s not faux Friday was typical “Barnes in March” fare.
Friday was ugly. Friday was a punking. Friday was a bumbling mess. Friday got here out of nowhere.
Friday was a invaluable lesson that an awesome workforce will take in and put to efficient use after the good thing about additional relaxation and reflection. Or a grim omen. I’d lean towards the previous, so long as the Vols are no less than as indignant because the Vols followers who filed out of Bridgestone with nothing to do for the remainder of the weekend.
(Photograph of Dalton Knecht: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA At this time)