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Tennessee basketball: Vols tough road win at Kentucky proves they’re a threat come March

By Charlie Salek

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 13: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Texas A
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 13: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Texas A /
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The Tennessee Volunteers showed plenty of toughness in beating Kentucky at Rupp Arena. They also showed why they will be a frightening opponent in March.

Tennessee shot poorly against Kentucky, especially from beyond the arc (23.8%). The Vols were also careless with the ball at times (13 turnovers). In addition to these shortcomings, their leading scorer (Grant Williams) only attempted three shots.

Despite all of the above, Tennessee still earned a road victory against a more athletic team in a hostile environment. These Vols can grind out wins even when they struggle in most facets of the game.

Coach Rick Barnes has this Tennessee team competing with relentless effort and maximum hustle every night. When all else fails, the Vols can still rely on their defense and their grit.

Against the second-toughest schedule according to KenPom, Tennessee owns an 18-5 record and is riding a six-game win streak. While Tennessee’s stingy defense deserves a lot of credit, the Vols’ offense has also been efficient.

Tennessee generates great ball movement and features a balanced scoring attack. Williams leads the team with 15.9 points per game, but has plenty of help from Admiral Schofield (12.5) and Lamonte Turner (11.0). Additionally, the Vols have a talented swingman in Jordan Bowden and two solid facilitators in Jordan Bone (3.5 assists per game) and James Daniel III (3.6 apg).

What can we expect from Tennessee moving forward?

Currently, the Vols are second in the SEC, trailing Auburn by 1.5 games. They have a great chance to finish the season stop the conference based on their remaining schedule. Tennessee plays four of its final seven games on the road, but only one of these road games is against a likely tournament team (Alabama, which is likely on the bubble).

Next: SEC mid-season recap and awards

It seems probable that Tennessee can finish 5-2 or better in this final stretch. If the Vols can accomplish this, they will put themselves in great position to earn at least a share of the SEC championship. Also, they will essentially lock up a top-four NCAA Tournament seed in this case. In conclusion, things are looking good for Tennessee right now.

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