Vols Smash Jayhawks in Big XII-SEC Challenge

The Vols had struggled shooting for several games. They had lost two of their last three. They were being counted out, and Rick Barnes and his team answered with a dominant victory over Kansas.

After a difficult three-game stretch in SEC play, the Tennessee Volunteers looked to have an uphill challenge on their hands in the Big XII/SEC Challenge, when the number 18 Vols welcomed in the number 15 Kansas Jayhawks. The Vols had, in their previous three games, been dominated and blown out at Florida, been out muscled in a physical game against Missouri, and had managed to grind out a narrow victory against a physical and determined Mississippi State team on Tuesday. In all three games the Vols had struggled to score, having difficulty in hitting any open shots or finding consistent offense. Facing a Kansas team that is physical on the glass and with the Vols offensive struggles, it seemed likely that the Jayhawks would be a favorite to leave Knoxville with a win. It seemed likely, right up until Tennessee seemingly solved all their offensive problems and turned out one of their most impressive defensive efforts of the entire season. Not only did Tennessee tally a win over the Jayhawks, avenging last year’s narrow loss in Lawrence, they rolled, to the tune of an 80–61 victory that wasn’t as close as that score.

It started with perhaps the best offensive first half the Vols have put together all season. Tennessee scored 40 in the first half, their third best offensive output in a half all year trailing only their performances against Tennessee Tech and St. Joseph. The Vols shot over sixty percent from the floor in the first half, and they even managed to be efficient from long range as well. Tennessee has struggled all year to hit consistently from three-point range. This hasn’t stopped them from shooting the shots however. The difference against Kansas was that the good looks that just haven’t gone down all started falling. Tennessee also defended the three-point arc well, allowing the Jayhawks to shoot just eight percent from deep in the first half. Tennessee’s smothering defense early was anchored by the SEC’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Yves Pons, who was all over the floor terrorizing Kansas shooters, while he also notched himself 10 first half points. The Tennessee defense in the first held the Jayhawks to only 26, as Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, John Fulkerson, and Josiah Jordan-James pressured Kansas with every dribble. The Jayhawks were constantly accosted and harassed by Tennessee defenders. The Vols came with the kind of elite defensive effort that elevated them early in the season.

The Volunteer barrage continued to start the second half, as the Vols opened on a quick run to extend their lead while continuing to stifle the Kansas offense. After several games in a row where Tennessee was hammered on the boards, the Vols came out and out worked, hustled, and fought a Kansas team that felt they had a significant advantage on the glass. A smaller Tennessee lineup out rebounded the Jayhawks 38–23 with 11 coming from Josiah Jordan-James, 7 from Santiago Vescovi, 7 from Yves Pons, and another 6 from John Fulkerson. The commitment to rebounding elevated Tennessee’s already smothering defense to another level. At times this season, even when the Vols forced bad shots or created missed shots, they were unable to reap the rewards of the defensive efforts, as offensive rebounds led to scoring possessions for opponents anyway. Against Kansas, Tennessee cleaned the glass, ensuring that misses ended possessions and set the Tennessee offense up to operate. The Volunteer offense continued to be steady and efficient, and the Vols widened their lead, ensuring that this game was never in doubt.

Tennessee was led by an outstanding effort from Yves Pons. Not only was Pons brilliant on defense, he continued to show that he has found a game changing level of offense. Pons tallied 17 points and 7 rebounds to go with a stellar defensive performance, despite leaving the game after hitting the base of the goal midway through the second half. Joining Pons with an impressive effort in the paint was John Fulkerson. Fulkerson has been up and down the last few games for the Vols, and has been called out for his effort and play by Barnes in the press conferences following those down games. Barnes should be far more pleased with his senior forward tonight, as he notched 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Fulkerson played well defensively against Kansas, playing with more physicality, and showed more aggression, attacking the basket to create easy passing opportunities for his teammates. Fulkerson also worked well down low offensively, helping to create opportunities for Yves Pons to have space as he went 2-2 from three. 

As well as Tennessee’s All-SEC front court played, the game against the Jayhawks may represent the best effort by the Volunteer guards all season. Jaden Springer, still playing at less than one hundred percent, put together a 13 point, 4 rebound, and 3 assist night. Springer spent significant minutes running the offense for Tennessee at the point, and he supplied the Vols with strong defense to prevent Kansas guards driving the lane. His partner at point guard, Santiago Vescovi, also had success handling the ball for Tennessee. Vescovi helped get the Tennessee scoring going with an early three, and he ended with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. The number of rebounds that Vescovi pulled in, often as the smallest man on the floor, along with his effort and hustle defensively, are a perfect example of the attitude Tennessee brought to this game. Similarly, Josiah Jordan-James came up just a point shy of a double-double, scoring 9 points, grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists. Jordan-James stuffed the stat sheet while also using his size and strength to both Kansas shooters the entire game. The Vols also got 8 points and superb one-on-one defense from Keon Johnson, as well as 11 points and 4 assists from Victor Bailey Jr. All of the players that see major minutes for Tennessee turned in impressive efforts against Kansas.

The Vols answer a tough three-game stretch with a dominant win over a Top 15 team in the nation. They also got their payback for last year’s loss at Kansas, and knocked off one of the blue-bloods of college basketball in front of a national audience. The Vols were outstanding against Kansas, never trailing in the game and never leaving any doubt who the best team on the floor was. The Vols were efficient on offense, shooting over fifty percent for the game, they were effective scoring inside, they were finally effective from deep where they were over sixty percent shooting on far fewer threes. The Vols played smothering defense at all five spots for the entire game, while cleaning the glass against a taller team all night. Tennessee cut down their turnovers and only missed one free throw to shoot ninety four percent from the charity stripe. This effort is clearly the best and most complete effort on both ends of the floor for Tennessee this season. When Rick Barnes has his team playing like this, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the country. The key now for Tennessee is to build on this momentum and carry it into their next contest at Ole Miss. That game will tipoff at 7:00 eastern time and will be broadcast on ESPN2.