Tennessee vs. Auburn recap: Dalton Knecht is the best player in college basketball
The Tennessee Basketball Volunteers secured a gigantic victory on Wednesday night at the Food City Center. Former Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl brought his 11th-ranked Auburn Tigers into Knoxville and they came ready for a fight. Auburn’s depth, defense, and balls-to-the-wall style of play gave Tennessee fits in the 2nd half. The Vols found themselves down 63-55 with 12:17 left to play, but then Dalton Knecht proved why he is the best player in the nation. All he did was score 25 points in the last 12 minutes which spearheaded the Vols to a 92-84 win. Knecht’s finish to the game was unlike anything a Tennessee player has done since the likes of Allan Houston and Chris Lofton, and Vol fans should cherish the last month or so he has as a Vol.
The Vols also overcame another low-scoring output from their two 5th-year seniors as Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi combined for only 4 points. I think it is perfectly reasonable to criticize their scoring output throughout SEC play, but any talk of them being “unplayable” or taking them out of the starting lineup is nonsense. Vescovi and James always play their asses off on defense and their effort is never lacking. Also, why would any coach of a top 5 team mess with their starting lineup as the calendar flips to March? There is more to basketball than scoring, and I think two experienced players who have played in a boatload of games will always find a way to make an impact when things get tight. The scoring of these two at this point is more of a cherry on top type of deal anyway. For the bulk of SEC play, most of the shots have been taken by Knecht, Aidoo, and Zeigler. The Vols have proved for weeks now that they are still a legitimate final-4 threat without James and Vescovi carrying the load so if they do start to score as we get into March lookout.
Another trend that continued in the Auburn game was the Aidoo and Awaka lineup. The duo combined for 25 points and 12 rebounds, and did enough defensively to keep Auburn’s Johni Broome from taking over the game. Also, Zakai Zeigler, while looking shaky at times against Auburn’s great defense, still managed 17 points and 9 assists.
The Vols will more or less be playing for an SEC championship on Saturday night as they head down to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Tennessee and Alabama are both 12-3 in SEC play and tied for 1st place. These are the types of games that people remember, and whoever wins this one will be firmly in the driver’s seat for an SEC title. Furthermore, if the Vols can secure the win on Saturday night the chance for a 1-seed becomes very realistic. The Vols will need a great effort to win that game on the road, but for now, let’s bask in the glory of sending Bruce Pearl back to southern Alabama with a loss.