NCAA Basketball: Tennessee concerns, LSU’s SEC title chances and more

1) Concerns about Tennessee

I’ve urged caution with this Tennessee team for a few weeks now. They are a very good team but had not been tested since early December, so I wanted to see how they looked when they made that step up in weight class.

The Vols were able to stay in the game in the first half but when Kentucky stepped their game up in the second half, Tennessee couldn’t answer. Kentucky has faced one of the toughest schedules in the country and knows the level they need to play at to beat high-quality teams like this. It was clear Tennessee had not figured that out.

That said, my concern with Tennessee is the way they lost this game and the way Kentucky took control in the second half.

The Vols pride themselves on being an aggressive, physical team. It’s their identity. Yet the Wildcats were physically dominant and took it to Tennessee for most of the game, which is why they were able to dictate everything. They won the battle on the glass by a considerable margin.

Tennessee also has one of the most well-balanced offensive attacks in the country. Sure, Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield are the two stars, but they usually get contributions from everyone. That didn’t happen in Lexington as only three players (Williams, Schofield, Jordan Bone) scored more than four points.

The sky is not suddenly falling on this Tennessee program and they’re not suddenly bad. This does, however, bring them back to reality and showcased some concerns that might keep them from making a Final Four if they continue to plague them.