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Tennessee Basketball: 3 Takeaways from Vols Regular Season Finale 59-54 Win Over Alabama Crimson Tide

By Caleb Calhoun

Mar 4, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Mar 4, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Admiral Schofield (5) and forward Lew Evans (21) and guard Shembari Phillips (25) and guard Robert Hubbs III (3) during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee won 59 to 54. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Mar 4, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Admiral Schofield (5) and forward Lew Evans (21) and guard Shembari Phillips (25) and guard Robert Hubbs III (3) during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee won 59 to 54. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee basketball won its regular season finale over the Alabama Crimson Tide 59-54 on Senior Day. Here are three takeaways from the Volunteers’ victory.

Tennessee basketball finally ended its three-game losing streak and avoided a second straight regular season with a losing record with its win over Alabama Saturday.

The Vols fought back from a 14-point deficit at halftime, which extended to 16 points in the second half, with incredible defense and a red-hot offensive run.

With the win, Rick Barnes’s team closes out the regular season with a 16-15 record and an 8-10 SEC record.

Meanwhile, Alabama fell to 17-13 on the regular season and 10-8 in the SEC.

Here are three takeaways from Tennessee basketball’s win.

1. The Vols finally didn’t quit.

Just two days ago, we published a piece about how this Tennessee basketball team quit down the stretch of the season. And going into the second half of this game, that looked like it was still true. However, the Vols did the exact opposite after that.

You’d think being down by 16 in your final regular season game with the NCAA Tournament game would be enough reason to quit. But the Vols turned in the toughest defensive effort of the year after that, and they stayed patient and effective on offense. As a result, although we tore them apart two days ago, we have to give them credit now.

2. The bigs took control.

It was a defensive struggle, and Tennessee basketball could not get anything going. Meanwhile, Robert Hubbs III, clearly still hurt, could not buy a bucket. As a result, Rick Barnes turned to the forwards in the second half, and they did not disappoint.

Lew Evans made his Senior Day a game to remember with 13 points and three three-pointers. Admiral Schofield hit two three-pointers off the bench for 10 points. But the star of the game was a freshman that all Vols fans are excited about.

3. Grant Williams wins the hustle award.

After his awful performance in the worst loss of the season for the Vols this past Wednesday, Grant Williams began the process of redeeming himself on Saturday. And he did an amazing job of doing that with his performance.

It’s not just that Williams had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. He also had three blocks, and seven of his rebounds were offensive rebounds. So Williams just out-hustled everybody under the basket in this game, and that’s why he deserves credit for the win.

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