Tennessee basketball: Vols take down the No.1 team in the nation

Tennessee basketball played another top-five team close to the very end. Only this time they came out on top with a 76-73 win.

What Rick Barnes has done with this Tennessee basketball program is nothing short than remarkable. The Vols were in a state of trouble with Donnie Tyndall, and that’s an understatement. Tyndall only coached one season in Knoxville and his team wasn’t competitive. He didn’t set Barnes up with an easy task either.

However, the players deserve a lot of credit. They had to buy into the philosophy of Barnes and staff as well as put in the effort to get better. Time and time again, the players have been praised for their work ethics, and it showed.

They did it. Tennessee beat the No.1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs and what a game it was. It had a feeling of a Final Four matchup which is something we most certainly could see in the near future. Both teams are good enough to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

They beat a team ranked number one in the nation for the first time since 2010 when they took down the Kansas Jayhawks.

It was a back and forth game, and when Grant Williams got his fifth foul, you had to think the advantage went to Gonzaga. However, Admiral Schofield took over the game. Here are three takeaways from one of the best games the college basketball world will see all season.

1. Gonzaga ordered a PB&J with a little extra JELLY

Have yourself a game, Admiral Schofield. In fact, have yourself a career-high in points game, Admiral Schofield. He had no other choice; Grant Williams fouled out of the game which resembled what happened against Kansas. Only this time Schofield took over.

He finished the game with a career-high 30 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the three-point line. Schofield also added six rebounds and played stellar defense down the stretch on Rui Hachimura.

Note to other teams on Tennessee’s schedule the rest of the season, don’t talk smack to Admiral Schofield, he only plays better. However, Volnation can thank Zach Norvell Jr. for getting the Admiral rolling.

2. No.1 team in the land, no PROBLEM

Tennessee hasn’t beat a No.1 ranked team since 2010. They were undermanned and thanks to great shooting from Renaldo Woolridge and Skylar McBee, the Vols took down Kansas.

This year’s team has more talent and experience than that 2010 team but coming into the game, Tennessee seemed undermanned and unrespected. But, no more. The Knoxville media has been saying it for a while, now the national media knows this Vols team can beat anyone in the nation.

3. Physical play was the difference

Despite the lack of bench depth, which was a problem. Despite the fact, Tennessee shot just 35 percent from the field and Grant Williams fouling out, physical play was a difference. Even head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs Mark Few in his post game comments said the Vols were the most physical team his Bulldogs have played all season.

When Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield get the ball in the paint, they are looking to score by going hard to the rack. Gonzaga played Duke earlier in the year, and they have outstanding freshmen, but there is something to be said about experienced players playing physical and smart.

It can’t be understated just how much the win meant for Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball program. More to come from the upset win of the No.1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs.