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Tennessee basketball: Vols choke against Auburn in our week in review

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 02: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 02, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 02: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 02, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN, ALABAMA – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts to the fans in the stands during the game against the Murray State Racers at Auburn Arena on December 22, 2018, in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts to the fans in the stands during the game against the Murray State Racers at Auburn Arena on December 22, 2018, in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

No.2 – Barnes and the Vols lose another BIG game

Win, and you at least share a piece of the SEC regular season title just like last season. But in the most Tennessee thing ever, they lose the big game.

The Vols won 27 regular season games and didn’t win their conference. Without watching all season, you would probably think that’s because the SEC is loaded. And, don’t get me wrong, the conference is tough, but not winning the conference has more to do with the Vols choking down the stretch.

The final seven games of the season were going be a test. Maybe the toughest test for any team in the entire nation. Tennessee failed that test, miserably.

The Vols went 4-3 which ultimately cost them the regular season title.

There is a lot anyone can point to for the lack of success in the final seven games, like needing a lineup change, which we will hit on later. But, a glaring fact is Rick Barnes lost another big game.

I’m not a Barnes basher.

I still stand behind my take that Barnes should win SEC Coach of the Year and should be considered for National Coach of the Year. What he has done with the Tennessee basketball program is remarkable. However, Tennessee hasn’t played well in big games this season.

Barnes is just 4-4 in big games this season, and I’m being generous considering Vanderbilt and Memphis.

Auburn – L

Kentucky – W

LSU – L

Kentucky – L

Vanderbilt – W

Memphis – W

Gonzaga – W

Kansas – L

It will be interesting to see if Tennessee can turn things around with nothing but big games left to play.

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