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Tennessee basketball: Vols dominated the Georgia Bulldogs in SEC opener

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 29: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers gets a rebound during the second half of the game between the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on December 29, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 96-53. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 29: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers gets a rebound during the second half of the game between the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on December 29, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 96-53. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball improves their winning streak to eight games and starts SEC play 1-0 with a dominant 46-point win.

The Tennessee basketball team opened conference play on a seven-game winning streak. It’s college sports and upsets happen all the time. However, from the opening tip, the game was over.

The Vols never gave Georgia a chance to stay in striking distance to pull the upset. Halfway through the first half Tennessee led by over ten points and it only got worse from there.

By halftime, the Vols had a 29-point lead on 56.7 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from the three-point line. Not only did they have an impressive half shooting but they held Georgia to 0-for-8 from deep in the first half. Anytime you can hold a Power Five team to zero percent shooting from the three-point line; you know you’ve done something right.

Tennessee actually scored more points in the first 20 minutes then Georgia scored the entire game. It was a dominating performance for the No.3 team in the nation. Here are three takeaways from the 96-50 statement win.

1. Rick Barnes and the Vols show NO MERCY

Tennessee’s all-time largest margin of victory in an SEC game came in 1966 against the Ole Miss Rebels. The Vols scored 102 while only giving up 55 points for a 47-point win.

Look I know the record wasn’t on anyone’s mind, but the Vols were playing passing lanes with four minutes to go up 40 points. They don’t know how not to play hard.

Tennessee fans should be happy that Barnes isn’t afraid to play his starters late in a blowout win. Everyone on the college level can score, and when you let teams hang around, you end up getting beat.

2. When Kyle Alexander plays well, the Vols are unstoppable

We could honestly write an article every single day about how incredible Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield are. They are not just two of the best players in the SEC, but you could argue they are two of the best in the nation.

I mean doesn’t Williams deserve credit and love for scoring 15 points at halftime? Sure he does, but we are highlighting Kyle Alexander. The senior big man is having his best season yet, and he showed how much he had improved today.

Alexander finished with his second double-double of the season and the fourth of his career. He ended the game with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

The Vols are already arguably the best team in the nation. But, if this is the type of production Alexander is going to give, there isn’t a team in the nation that’s better than Tennessee.

3. Jordan Bowden looks comfortable coming off the bench

One of the things I was interested in watching is how Jordan Bowden played with the return of Lamonte Turner. Today might not be the best way to gauge a complete opinion, after all, it was just one game, but Bowden played great.

Off the bench, he led the team with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.

Bowden and Turner off the bench might be the two scariest scoring threats in the entire nation. If both guys can come in and put pressure on opposing second teams.

Next. 5 SEC players that could cause havoc for the Vols. dark

Tennessee will be in action next on Tuesday when they travel to take on the Missouri Tigers at 7:00 pm.

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