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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dalton Knecht launched a 3-pointer from the right wing as he’s done so many times for Tennessee this season, and the tension rose inside Bridgestone Arena, which was filled with orange-clad fans ready to erupt during the Volunteers’ game vs. Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday.
Buzz had been building as the Volunteers mounted a 10-0 run late in the second half, and a make from the SEC Player of the Year would have brought the SEC Tournament’s No. 1 seed within single digits for the first time since the first half.
It wasn’t meant to be.
The shot came up short, and as the rebound trickled away, Knecht and teammate Josiah-Jordan James nearly collided while attempting to save it from going out of bounds. Neither reached it in time. It was Mississippi State’s ball and Mississippi State’s day as the Bulldogs promptly extended the lead once again on their way to thrashing Tennessee 73-56.
Knecht collected the ball after the whistle blew and slammed it on the ground in frustration. The sound resonated as an arena filled mostly with Tennessee fans fell silent. They had been hoping their team’s postseason journey would begin in a much different fashion.
“We don’t want this feeling ever again,” Knecht said later.
After a Friday clunker against the Bulldogs and an 85-81 loss to Kentucky on Senior Day to conclude the regular season last Saturday, Tennessee is heading to Selection Sunday on its first two-game losing streak since November. Projected to land as a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history when the day began, the Vols are in danger of slipping to a No. 2 seed, according to CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm.
“They’re a physical team and they brought a lot of energy today,”…
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Author : David Cobb
Publish date : 2024-03-15 21:41:02
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