By Jimmy Hyams
After Tennessee beat Kentucky last month in Knoxville, Vols coach Rick Barnes told his team it was a national championship contender.
I didn’t buy.
I saw too many flaws in a team that was really good, but not elite.
I saw a team without inside scoring, without a rim protector, without consistent outside shooting, without the ability to maintain huge leads in the second half.
But after watching Tennessee beat four top five teams, win a rubber match against Kentucky in the Kentucky Invitational (also known as the SEC Tournament), and capture its first conference tournament title since 1979, I’ve changed my mind.
The SEC is one of the two toughest conferences in the country, yet the Vols, after a 2-3 conference start, earned the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament with a 14-4 league record. Then went 3-0 in the SEC tourney, knocking off No. 5 Kentucky and a red-hot Texas A&M team in the final. Remarkably, UT trailed by a grand total of 86 seconds in Tampa.
After getting blown out at Kentucky Jan. 15, UT has won 15 of 16 against SEC opponents.
That’s an incredible streak.
Yes, the Vols almost blew a 22-point lead against Arkansas, an 11-point lead against Auburn, a 14-point lead against Kentucky. But the key word in that sentence is almost.
Tennessee keeps finding a way to win, whether it’s Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi hitting 3s or Kennedy Chandler driving the lane or Zakai Ziegler making steals or a stifling defense – in particular a stifling defense.
An SEC tourney title, a 26-7 record, a No. 8 Net rating, 11 wins over Quadrant-1 opponents and the No. 2 strength of schedule should have earned Tennessee a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
UT’s resume is clearly better than Duke’s. it’s also better than Kentucky’s and Auburn’s.
Nonetheless, UT getting a 3-seed and opening the tournament Thursday against Longwood in Indianapolis with a potential second-round matchup against the Michigan-Colorado State winner is a favorable draw.
Tennessee’s victory over A&M was sparked by a trio of Vols. UT burst to a 14-0 lead. When the Aggies, playing their fourth game in four days, cut the margin to 34-29, Vescovi took over. He made a steal, hit three free throws, swished two 3s and before you could say Uruguay, the Vols were up 46-31. A&M never challenged again.
Vescovi had 17 points (he hit 4 of 9 3s), five assists, three rebounds and two steals in another stellar all-around game.
Chandler, who turned his ankle Friday against Mississippi State but was terrific against Kentucky, had 14 points (he made 4 of 7 3s), seven assistants and four rebounds with no turnovers.
James had 16 points (he was 3 of 7 on 3s), 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists.
All three made the all-tournament team with Chandler being named the MVP.
But the MVP could easily have been Vescovi or James.
Tennessee got 15 points and 16 rebounds from its four bigs, with Fulkerson yanking down 12 rebounds.
While the inside production is still a concern, the guard play, James’ all-around play and 3-point shooting (UT was 12 of 28 from beyond the arc in the title game) have made UT a dangerous team. And a fun team to watch.
“They believe in each other,’’ said an ecstatic UT coach Rick Barnes, who won his second conference tournament title in 35 years. “They’re very unselfish guys.’’
As usual, Barnes had a message for his team.
“I want them to enjoy this,’’ Barnes said. “But you know what next week is about. You want more.’’
Barnes has taken just one team to the Final Four.
Tennessee has never reached a Final Four. It has made only one Elite Eight in program history. It is 1-7 in Sweet 16 games.
When this team was 2-3 in SEC play, I gave it no chance to win the SEC Tournament and little chance to make the Sweet 16.
But when you’re good enough to win the school’s first league tournament title since 1979, you’re good enough to make a significant run in the NCAA Tournament.
But for now, the Vols have earned the right to celebrate an achievement 43 years in the making.
“Man, I can’t even describe it,’’ James said.
Chandler was also euphoric.
“I’m just so happy, honestly,’’ said the true freshman point guard. “We work hard every single day in practice. We push each other. We deserve this win.
“And we’re not done yet. We’re just getting started.’’
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