This was supposed to be the time of game in which Tennessee would have a letdown. The basketball Vols debuted at No. 1 in the NCAA NET rankings, the most relied on formula by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, on Monday. On Tuesday, they were set to face a lesser but very dangerous opponent.
It didn’t matter.
UT, ranked No. 3 in both polls, absolutely obliterated the Syracuse Orange 96-70 in the SEC/ACC Challenge to improve to 8-0 Tuesday night. The Vols used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to take a 30-18 lead and control of the game and head into halftime up 45-35. They continued to expand their lead in the second half, dominating in every way.
Syracuse entered the game 4-2, but despite suffering their third loss, this is a much more dangerous team than its record suggests. Second-year head coach Adrian Autry is leading a team that returns two key starters from last year’s 20-12 team and also added five-star Donnie Freeman along with four four-star transfers.
Before this game, their only losses were by four to the Texas Longhorns and by five to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, both on neutral courts. Simply put, while this isn’t a top 10 team, and the Vols were going to beat them at home, winning by 26 in their dark mode uniforms was beyond impressive.
Chaz Lanier, as he has been all year, was the star for Rick Barnes’ team, scoring 26 points. Sure, he was 4-of-10 from three, but he also manufactured points in the paint as well. Zakai Zeigler had 14 points, going 3-of-8 from three, and four steals to go along with eight assists. Igor Milicic Jr. added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Depth helped UT as well, as Cade Phillips added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench, and Jordan Gainey scored 12 points as well. The true difference in the game was offensive boards, which UT had 13 of to Syracuse’s five and led to them winning the rebounding edge 39-26.
This is the formula for the Vols winning. They shot good enough from three, going 10-of-29, their stars in each role stepped up in the starting lineup, they had a scoring spark off the bench, and the bigs all played their role. Oh, and they dominated on defense, Felix Okpara and Jahmai Mashack playing their parts.
Taking all this into account, it’s pretty clear why UT is No. 1 in the NET rankings, and they may be No. 1 overall before long. Up next for the Vols will be a visit from the Miami Hurricanes in a week. Syracuse, meanwhile, will visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at noon Saturday.
