Tennessee basketball: Vols improve to 2-0 in SEC play by rolling Missouri

Tennessee basketball started slow but ended up rolling past the Tigers. Here are three takeaways from the game.

If I were to tell you that No.3 Tennessee basketball team trailed Missouri by their largest deficit of the season and Grant Williams had zero points, I repeat zero points, at halftime, you probably think they lost the game. And, most people, if they were honest, would have agreed with you.

No way the Vols could go on the road in the SEC, play a decent opponent, and pull out a win without Grant Williams, but that’s what they did.

After getting down 19-10 midway through the first half, the Vols went on a 32-12 run to end the half. A surprising lineup, which included Derrick Walker Jr and John Fulkerson, came to the recuse by going on a 10-0 run while Williams and Admiral Schofield were on the bench.

In the end, Tennessee had too much depth and wore down the Tigers. Here are three takeaways from the game.

1. No surprise but Lamonte Turner means a lot to this team

Sometimes a record doesn’t tell the whole story. A great example is Alabama football, their record was great, but their performance in the National Championship Game was straight garbage. The Vols were a 12-1 coming into the game, and despite a number three ranking, they needed Turner.

He has been fighting a shoulder injury this season, but as he is starting to settle back into the lineup, he was back to hitting clutch shots.

One of the things that made Turner great last season was his ability to provide an offensive spark when the scoring droughts came. Tonight he did just that. Turner was apart of that lineup that went on a 10-0 run. He took a questionable three-point shot or two, but he finished the game 3-of-4 from deep.

There’s no question that the Vols need Turner to provide them a spark off the bench. If so, Tennessee’s second team could score just as much as the starters and made it remarkably difficult for opposing teams to defend.

2. Bowden is playing like an SEC Sixth Man of the Year

Speaking of scoring off the bench, Jordan Bowden has arguably had the best back-to-back games of his career. For the second-straight game, Bowden has scored 20 points while only shooting 1-of-8 from the three-point line.

Last season if his stat line was 1-of-8 from deep he wouldn’t have scored 40 points in two games. It shows just how much he has progressed as a player and a scorer.

In fact, there was a three-game span last season where Bowden shot 1-of-10 from deep where he only scored a total of 13  points.

In two SEC games, the junior guard has scored 40 points. It’s unlikely he will continue to score at such a high pace but even averaging around 12-14 points will be fantastic paired with Turner.

3. Back-to-back double-doubles

Tennessee didn’t get much from Grant Williams, who was leading the SEC in scoring coming into the game. However, they once again proved they could win multiple ways, and tonight it was a Kyle Alexander show.

For the second-straight game, the senior forward posted a double-double. Against the Georiga Bulldogs, Alexander scored 12 points while pulling down 14 rebounds. Tonight he outdid himself in both statical categories by scoring 14 points and grabbing a career-high 17 boards. And, he pitched in three blocks.

Tennessee once again proved they are the best team in the land. You can watch the Vols next on Saturday at 6:00 pm against the Florida Gators.