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Tennessee basketball: No.1 Vols keep it rolling with a season sweep over the Gamecocks

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 13: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots the ball against the South Carolina Gamecoacks at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 13, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 13: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots the ball against the South Carolina Gamecoacks at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 13, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The No.1 Tennessee basketball team beat South Carolina for the second time this season. Here are three takeaways from the game.

Tennessee basketball does it again.

They casually strung South Carolina along close enough to keep the crowd involved, yet far enough away to not worry about losing.

Would you believe me if I told you the Vols won by double digits again and Grant Williams only scored two more points than John Fulkerson? Of course, you would because Tennessee is built to play different styles and has the ability to win even if a National Player of the Year candidate scores under ten points.

Tennessee extends their program-setting win streak to 19 games. The win gives the Vols an 11-0 record to start SEC play which was the first time in program history.

South Carolina hung as expected, but they didn’t have a run in them under six minutes. Tennessee ended up winning their third straight game by 12 points. Here are three takeaways from the game.

1. Chris Silva shows out…again

In the first matchup, Silva scored 28 points on 5-for-10 from the floor, including 12-for-16 from the free throw line. He also pulled down ten rebounds dominating the paint against Kyle Alexander.

Alexander played much better, but Silva still got his way. The senior big man scored 17 points on 6-for-13 from the floor, including 2-for-3 from the three-point line where he is shooting close to 40 percent on the season.

2. Three-point shooting was impressive for both teams

Both teams shot a combined 52.9 percent from the three-point line. The Gamecocks finished the game 14-for-23, over 60 percent from deep.

We’ve written about Tennessee not being as reliable on the defensive end this season and one of the reasons why is because they can’t protect the three-point line. The Vols don’t communicate well on ball screens leaving players wide open.

As good as South Carolina shot, Tennessee was almost as good. The Vols shot 9-for-20 from deep with Jordan Bowden leading the way connecting on four of his six attempts.

3. Casual attitude, still dominating

It’s a hard comparison to make, and I’m sure I will be hated on for it, but Tennessee is dominating opponents on the basketball court like Alabama dominates opponents on the football field.

The Vols have won three straight games by 12 points and have won their last five games by an average of 15 points per game.

What’s crazy is the Vols aren’t even playing their best ball, yet they keep winning. They aren’t playing at the same level as they would against Gonzaga or Kansas and yet they are still finding a way to win.

Next. 5 Vols signees for 2019 who could contribute early. dark

Tennessee is back in action on Saturday night in Rupp Arena. This will be the first time two top-five teams have played in the SEC in 16 years.  Expect this game to have a Final Four type of feel to it.

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