UT fights, defends No. 1 ranking at Vandy this time
NASHVILLE — These are the moments from which No. 1 seeds are made. These are the moments from which national championship seasons are made.
If ever the newly top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers were all but certain to lose, it was Wednesday night inside Vanderbilt’s magical — or maniacal, depending on whom you’re rooting for — Memorial Gym.
Despite owning at least two-thirds of the sold-out crowd of 14,316, despite facing a Commodores crew that entered this one with an 0-5 record in Southeastern Conference play, the Big Orange trailed 76-70 with less than 90 seconds to go.
The “overrated” chants from the few but proud Vandy fans were set to begin any second. After all, these are the games Vanderbilt almost never loses on its home floor. It milks the clock. Goes to the foul line. Makes the free throws.
Walks away with the win. Almost every time.
Did it against Indiana in December of 1986, four months before the Hoosiers would win it all. Did it against No. 1 North Carolina in 1987. Did it against the defending national champ Florida Gators in 2007. Did it against this same Tennessee program in 2008 when the Vols, having similarly just reached No. 1, were toppled by Vandy less than 72 hours later.
But these Vols aren’t those teams. Thanks in part to a questionable flagrant 1 foul against the Commodores that eventually delivered UT a four-point possession with 1:22 to go as Vandy fans shouted “NFL referees,” UT soon forced overtime at 76-all.
Then it was time for Grant Williams, the Commodore Killer, to shine. A year ago he totaled 37 points in this building during a Big Orange win. On Wednesday, he turned in one of the most brilliant performances in school history, scoring 10 of his game-high 43 points in overtime, including hitting all six of his free throws in the extra period, which brought his total for the game to 23-for-23 at the foul stripe.
The final score was Tennessee 88, Vanderbilt 83. For at least one night, the Vols had defended their No. 1 ranking in style — thanks mainly to their No. 2, Williams.
“Sometimes you come to a game and you’re hitting everything,” said afterward. “Sometimes you’re not hitting anything.”
Asked if he’d ever hit enough shots previously to score 43 points in a game, he said, “I don’t know if that’s ever happened before.”
For Tennessee as a team, this has never happened before. The Vols’ only other journey to No. 1 ended with a loss the first game out. But not this night. And not likely on Saturday, when struggling West Virginia must visit Thompson-Boling Arena at 4 p.m. for the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
“We found a way to make some plays,” UT coach Rick Barnes said afterward. “But give Vanderbilt credit. They fought the whole way.”
Fight the Commodores did. The worst 3-point shooting team in the SEC hit 10 of 21 triples against the Vols. Down 15-2 early and having turned the ball over on five of its first six possessions, Vandy somehow held a onepoint lead inside the final three minutes of the opening half and trailed only 38-37 at the break.
But Tennessee came back to lead by six during the first four minutes of the final half. The Vols still led by five after six minutes and by four after eight.
Then Vandy turned dandy, finally earning a three-point lead on an Aaron Nesmith triple with 6:06 to go. Even with a spectacular Jordan Bowden dunk following a timeout that briefly pulled the Vols within 70-67 with 3:23 left, the Commodores held firm, earning that 76-70 advantage with 1:32 to go.
The flagrant 1 call seven seconds later changed everything, however. VU’s Clevon Brown was called for the foul, which not only gave Williams two free throws but UT another possession of the ball. Williams scored on that possession as well to move UT within two at 76-74. Two quick Commodores turnovers and a stupendous Williams block eventually led to overtime and the Vols’ 17th win of the year against a single overtime loss to Kansas.
“We’ve been in these situations before,” Williams said. “It’s just a matter of doing your job and executing.”
Vanderbilt didn’t execute as well as it could have down the stretch, which might be one reason it fell to 9-9 for the season and 0-6 within the conference.
“There were a lot of guys crying, because we thought we were going to win this game,” said third-year VU coach Bryce Drew. “Our leading scorers were two freshmen and a sophomore. I don’t think (UT) played a freshman all night.”
No, UT let the best junior in the SEC, if not the nation, get the ball enough to score 43 points in a road game in which the nation’s new No. 1 needed every one of those points.
“Life as the No. 1 team in the country is going to be difficult,” Williams said. “You’re going to get everyone’s best shot.”
But when you can win from six points down on the road with 1:25 to play, you can return a pretty good shot yourself.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.