It is redundant to discuss the on-paper weaknesses of Tennessee’s basketball team. They are well-publicized, beyond UT’s control and have rarely mattered this season.
But it was something UT can control — intensity — that became a weakness and made the difference in Texas A&M’s, 67-61, win over the Vols at Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday afternoon.
The Aggies (13-5, 4-2 SEC) outscored UT, 30-10, in the paint and out-toughed a Vols’ squad that, as it probably should have been, was manhandled by a much beefier A&M frontcourt.
Time after time though, by playing with ignorant bliss and intensity, this team has demonstrated an ability to overcome obstacles like the one 6-foot-7, 223-pound Jalen Jones, 6-foot-7, 207-pound Danuel House and 6-foot-9, 247-pound Kourtney Roberson presented.
Those traits were enough for UT to beat No. 19 Arkansas and its mammoth center Bobby Portis on Jan. 13. The Vols do not have a true point guard, either, and they still survived the Razorbacks’ pressure defense that night by playing like team that didn’t know it was supposed to be bad.
Since a, 56-38, loss to Alabama on Jan. 10, the Vols were a gritty team which played with a potent combination of the “tougher breed” mentality installed by former coach Cuonzo Martin and a unique swagger brought by new coach Donnie Tyndall.
But against Texas A&M, the Vols seemingly played with a sense of entitlement and finesse for much of the game. That must vanish quickly if they are to stay aboard the magic carpet ride that had them in sole possession of second place in the SEC before the game.
Tennessee cannot attempt 29 3-pointers and expect to win, Willie Carmichael cannot play 15 minutes and grab just one rebound and Derek Reese must employ the fervor he possessed when he grabbed a game-clinching rebound against South Carolina on Tuesday.
First-year head coach Donnie Tyndall deserves much of the credit for UT’s 12-6 start, but he took the blame for the lack of pep displayed by his team in front of 16,547 fans who have come to expect overachievement from a youthful group.
“I don’t like to use that word, ‘complacency,'” Tyndall said. “But we came out at the beginning of the game exactly like that (complacent).”
A complacent Kentucky team is good enough to go undefeated in the regular season.
A complacent Tennessee team is bad enough to lose every game remaining on its schedule.
The usually blunt Tyndall summed it up with his final postgame remarks.
“With our margin of error, our lack of depth and some of the deficiencies we have,” he said, “if we are not on razor’s edge and playing with attention to detail every night we can’t win, no matter who we play.”
David Cobb is a senior in journalism and electronic media. He may be reached at [email protected]
