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NCAA Basketball: Examining title contenders, Texas Tech’s return & more takeaways

By Brian Rauf

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes in to dunk the basketball during the first half of the game Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes in to dunk the basketball during the first half of the game Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during the second half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during the second half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2. Yes, it’s time to worry about Tennessee

While Texas Tech is trending up, Tennessee is trending down. I mentioned in the Rauf Report two weeks ago that I was wary of Tennessee moving forward despite their 19-game win streak because, outside of Gonzaga at the start of the streak, they had not faced a single team that is a lock to make the NCAA Tournament and would be taking a major step up in competition.

If these last three games have been a test of what’s to come, the Vols have failed.

Tennessee has lost two of their last three games with the lone victory coming in uninspiring fashion against Vanderbilt. Those defeats did come against the two other best teams in the SEC in Kentucky and LSU, but it’s how they lost that is the problem.

The Vols have developed an identity and a reputation for being a hard-nosed, physical team under Rick Barnes. However, Tennessee was clearly out-physicaled in both losses, raising questions about their ability to impose their will against the level of competition they’ll face in the NCAA Tournament. The loss to Kentucky could be viewed as a blip on the radar, but their struggles in this area are undeniable after the loss to LSU (the Tigers were also missing their best player in Tremont Waters).

Tennessee closes the season with four more tough games – at Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State, at Auburn. If they don’t find a way to get their swagger back and raise their level of physicality, things could spiral out of control real quick.

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