LSU drops Vols to 1-2 in SEC play
In the final minute of Tennessee’s basketball game at LSU on Saturday night, Tigers fans began chanting, “Overrated! Overrated!”
Given the week produced by the No. 18 Volunteers, being ranked Monday may not be an absolute given.
After trailing by as many as 19 points, the Vols pulled within five with three minutes remaining before falling 79-67 to the No. 21 Tigers. LSU improved to 14-1 overall and 2-1 in Southeastern Conference play with its 10th straight win at home, while Tennessee dropped to 10-4 and 1-2.
The Vols struggled once again from 3-point range, shooting just 6-of-24 for a 26.1% clip, and they committed 15 turnovers. Tennessee was outrebounded 41-33, and the positive of getting to the line for 37 free throws was soured by 14 misses.
“The free throws were extremely frustrating,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said on a Zoom call afterward. “As bad as we were on offense, we did enough if we just make some free throws and take away some of the really silly turnovers. They’re a good team, and they do a good job, but we’re a good team.
“We’ve got to be better, and we’ve got to get better.”
A Tari Eason 3-pointer followed by an Eason dunk 18 seconds later catapulted LSU to a 58-42 lead and forced Barnes to call a timeout with 15:24 remaining in the game. The Tigers would eventually lead 64-45 on a Darius Days tip-in at the 12:10 mark, but the Vols went on a 21-7 run that culminated with a Santiago Vescovi 3-pointer that got them within 71-66.
“It’s all about energy for us,” Tennessee freshman guard Jahmai Mashack said. “When we have momentum and we have
energy, that really brings us a rhythm in the game. When we’re out there running and playing good defense, it easily leads to either good baskets or good moments.
“The main thing for us isn’t about the stats. It’s about the energy, and I think the energy in that stretch was a big thing for us.”
LSU halted Tennessee’s surge with a Brandon Murray layup and an Eason dunk to restore some comfort at 75-66. Eason came off the bench to lead the Tigers with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Days chipped in 15 and was 6-of-10 from the floor.
Vols freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler racked up 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting and collected three assists and four steals but committed six turnovers.
“I don’t think there’s any question he’s learning on the job,” Barnes said. “He was different
LSU forward Tari Eason dunks against Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua, left, and guard Kennedy Chandler during the second half of an SEC matchup Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.
tonight than he has been in some ways. There is no doubt he wanted to win badly, but he tried to do too much at times.”
Vescovi added 14 points behind a 3-for-7 effort from 3-point range.
It was a second straight subpar performance for Tennessee
sixth-year senior forward John Fulkerson after his return from a positive COVID-19 test that occurred over the team’s brief Christmas break. Fulkerson scored five points in 18 minutes during Wednesday’s lackluster 66-60 overtime win over visiting Ole Miss and tallied just three points in 17 minutes Saturday.
“He did feel like he was out of it the other night,” Barnes said. “He felt like he had no strength and no energy. John is 23 or 24 years old and has to know how to take care of his body. We had thought he had really turned a corner prior to all that and thought he was playing well.
“When this happened a year ago, it took him a long time. We’re hoping it’s not like that, but if it is, we’re going to have to make some changes. We’ve got to have energy, even if it’s a guy bringing it for 90 seconds.”
When Fulkerson’s health was brought up to Vols junior forward Uros Plavsic, he responded: “There is nobody who can replace John Fulkerson. He is a huge piece to this program and this team.”
Tennessee returns home to face South Carolina (10-4, 1-1) on Tuesday night with a 6:30 tip on the SEC Network.