The last time Tennessee fans saw Jonas Aidoo on the court, he was shrinking beneath the pressure for the Vols and cost them a shot at the Final Four in a loss to the Purdue Boilermakers. Now, sporting a different uniform, things did not go any better for him in his return to Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday.
Rick Barnes’ No. 1 ranked team beat John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks 76-52 in what was the SEC opener for both teams. The Hogs, ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll, had come into the game on a six-game winning streak and also returned Johnell Davis, who had missed the last two games. It didn’t matter.
Chaz Lanier was the star again, continuing his red-hot shooting streak by going 5-of-9 from three and scoring 20 points. Zakai Zeigler added 12 points, seven assists and three steals, and Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey each had three steals as well.
What Tennessee did to Aidoo down low was the story, however.
A chorus of boos poured onto the court every time he touched the ball, and less than four minutes into the game, with Arkansas actually leading 7-5, Aidoo drew a foul and went to the free throw line. He missed both. The torturous day did not end there for him either.
Aidoo finished with just four blocks and was part of an inside game that got dominated by the Vols in the post. UT outrebounded the Hogs 51-29, and the difference was offensive boards, which the Vols had 24 of just to Arkansas’s nine.
Igor Milicic Jr. had a historic game, scoring 13 points while going 2-of-5 from three and grabbing an incredible 18 boards, including six offensive rebounds. He also had a block, a steal and five assists. Felix Okpara was also effective, though, scoring 10 points.
Adding to the humiliation, the players said all the right things in the press conference. Zeigler said Aidoo is a brother, and Barnes said he told Aidoo he loved him and always would after the two shared a postgame hug. Remember, Aidoo transferred after Barnes stuck his neck out for the kid following that bad Elite Eight game.
With the win, the Vols improve to 14-0 on the year and will visit the Florida Gators Tuesday. Florida is No. 6 in the AP Poll and No. 5 in the Coaches Poll but suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, 106-100 on the road at the Kentucky Wildcats, who are No. 10 in the AP Poll and No. 11 in the Coaches Poll.
Arkansas, meanwhile, falls to 11-3 on the year and will host the Ole Miss Rebels, who are ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the Coaches Poll, on Wednesday. Ole Miss beat the Georgia Bulldogs 63-51 at home on Saturday.
