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Tennessee basketball: 3 takeaways from Vols loss at Alabama

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 30: Tennessee Volunteers fans react during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Georgia won 41-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 30: Tennessee Volunteers fans react during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Georgia won 41-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball shocked no one coming out flat as they get rocked by Alabama 80-59. Here are three takeaways from the Volunteers’ loss.

Well, we knew a letdown was coming, we just didn’t see it coming this way. What a horrible game from every single player that wore an orange jersey on other than Grant Williams. Everyone knew Alabama was a different team at home but my oh my this was ugly for Tennessee basketball!

From the start of the game, Alabama wanted it more from every player on the court. Tennessee started the game 3-11 from the field and was never able to get anything going and credit goes to the excellent defense Alabama was playing.

Conversely, the Vols defense was abysmal it was almost like playing a video game on the easiest level, and all your players were rated 99. Which is entirely mind-blowing because the Vols defense has been so good all season long.

With the loss, Tennessee basketball falls to 18-6 overall and 8-4 in the SEC. Vol fans can kiss a regular season SEC Title goodnight. I don’t think this hurts the Vols chances at a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they can’t afford to lose too many more game especially like this.

Now that this game is over, maybe Tennessee will realize they can’t take any game lightly when it comes to league play. Hopefully, this will wake up this team and show them that listening to the hype is nothing but trouble. This is still a terrific basketball team that ran into a Bama team that needed a big win. Here are three takeaways from Tennessee basketball’s loss against Alabama.

1. BEAT on the Boards

The word beat will be a familiar word used in the takeaways tonight. The Vols were beat on the boards, and it wasn’t even close. We know Tennessee isn’t the biggest team and there have been games were they got outrebounded but not like this.

Alabama controlled the rebounding battle 40-34. This number is a lot closer than how it went during the game. The Vols got a lot of garbage rebounds late in the game. Much like the rest of the game, there was no interest in rebounding.

2. BEAT in the Paint

I said the word beat was coming. One thing I didn’t see coming was Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander getting worked in the paint. I also didn’t think the guards would look like they didn’t know what defense or stopping the ball in transition meant.

The big men for Alabama got easy layups, putbacks, and easy dunks all night but the guards and especially Collin Sexton got to the rim anytime they wanted.

The total of points in the paint goes the Tide’s way obviously 50-18.

3. BEAT in Every Way Possible

Alabama’s 28-point victory over Tennessee is the largest win over a top-15 team in program history. Somehow it doesn’t matter what sport it is, Tennessee always finds itself on the wrong side of record-breaking games.

Effort = Alabama

Shooting = Alabama

Assists = Alabama

Steals = Alabama

Blocks = Alabama

Turnovers = Alabama

Points in the Paint = Alabama

Like I said this game was horrid. The Vols need to learn from this and not look over any team.

*Kyle Alexander block update: His block streak ended as he didn’t have a block against Alabama. He did have at least one block in each of the past eight games. He has a total of 21 blocks in a nine-game span. *

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