Tennessee basketball: Despite giving up more points, Vols defense hasn’t dropped off

The Tennessee basketball team is the best team in the country despite their defense not being as crisp. However, numbers tell a different story.

If you grew up playing basketball, you were certainly put into a situation that caused you or someone else to say, “ball never lies.”

In this case, “numbers don’t lie.”

There is no question the Vols don’t look as sharp on the defensive end. Last year, Tennessee basketball suffocated opponents and finished as one of the most effective defensive teams in the nation.

But, this season has been different, the defense isn’t great anymore, it’s just been okay. They aren’t doing all the small things that they were so disciplined on last season.

The post defense has been average at best. There is rarely communication on ball screen defense, creating a lot of open looks for the opponents. Teams are getting the rim easier this season generating a lot of drive-and-dish plays.

Active hands are a thing of the past, and there have been too many occasions of playing a shot clock full of great defense and then not boxing out leading to second-chance opportunities.

Yet, despite all that, numbers never lie.

Take a look as we break down and compare numbers from last season when the Vols had one of the best defenses in the nation. We begin with turnover percentage.

*All stats, percentages, and records are based on research from Kenpom.com*