Tennessee notched its greatest win of the season on Saturday when it beat Related Press No. 20 Illinois (7-2) 86-79.
SEC media members picked No. 17 Tennessee (6-3) to win the convention in its preseason ballot. The win over a ranked Illinois staff ought to give the Vols confidence, with convention play looming in January.
Earlier this season, Tennessee misplaced three consecutive video games towards top-20 groups, Purdue, Kansas and North Carolina, all below 10 factors.
This time, it was in a position to win an in depth sport towards a top-25 staff.
“This was probably the most focus, realizing what we needed to do on the defensive finish, all season,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes mentioned, per the Related Press (h/t ESPN). “[The Illini] problem the whole lot you do.”
The Vols had been led by guard Dalton Knecht, a Northern Colorado switch who scored 21 factors on 7-of-14 capturing. Coming into Saturday, Knecht led the staff in scoring (19 factors per sport).
Tennessee ought to make some noise into March with Knecht and guards Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler, each preseason All-SEC staff members.
Towards the Illini, Vescovi had 12 factors, 9 rebounds and three assists, whereas Zeigler chipped in with 11 factors, together with going 6-of-6 from the foul line.
Final season, Tennessee reached the NCAA Match as a No. 4 seed and made it to the Candy 16, the place it misplaced to ninth-seeded FAU in its exceptional run to the Remaining 4.
With its troublesome nonconference schedule, the Volunteers are assured to be battle-tested by the point the 2024 match approaches. Due to their win over the Illini, they could really feel higher about their possibilities of a deep run.
