All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball: Vols haven’t fared well against No.1 ranked teams in the past

By Billy Williford

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 06: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 61-59 win against the Kentucky Wildcats in the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 06: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 61-59 win against the Kentucky Wildcats in the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 13: Bruce Pearl the Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during the SEC game against the Kentucky Wildcats on February 13, 2010, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 13: Bruce Pearl the Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during the SEC game against the Kentucky Wildcats on February 13, 2010, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Tennessee Volunteers (12-2) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (14-1)

January 10, 2010 – Knoxville, Tennessee

This is arguably one of the most impressive victories I’ve seen in my lifetime. The Kansas Jayhawks were 14-0 and heading into Knoxville playing great basketball. They were stacked as well. They had young talent and unmatched experienced. Plus the Vols were having internal issues.

Following a late night arrest, Bruce Pearl had to suspend four players which included Tyler Smith, Melvin Goins, Brian Williams, and Cameron Tatum. Smith was one if not the best players on the team. Through the first 12 games of the season, Smith was averaging 11.7 points per game and almost five rebounds.

We all knew how this game was going to turn out, right? Tennessee without four players had no chance of staying in the game. Well, they didn’t just stay in the game, they won, in large part due to the 50 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line.

There are a couple of plays that stand out from that upset. Renaldo Woolridge banked in a three-point shot as he was 4-of-6 from the three-point line. But, the shot that still floats around the memory banks is from no other than Skylar McBee.

The Vols were up three points when McBee made a three-point shot with 36 seconds left in the game. It was a thing of beauty for Volnation as Thompson-Boling Arena about came crumbling down.

Home/Vols Basketball