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Tennessee basketball: Grant Williams’ 10 greatest games with Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 02: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots the ball 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: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots the ball 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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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images /

10. Nov. 22, 2017 vs. No. 18 Purdue Boilermakers (Bahamas)

Tennessee: 78 Purdue: 75 (OT)

Grant Williams stat line: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block

Heading into the 2017-2018 season, Grant Williams was expected to take over as Tennessee basketball’s go-to guy with the departure of Robert Hubbs III. However, it wasn’t clear whether or not he would be able to shoulder the load.

Well, this was the game to prove it for him, and it was the breakout game for the Vols as a program. After a losing record his first year and going .500 his second year, Rick Barnes needed to prove that his team had arrived. They did that here in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Tennessee beat Purdue with an incredible inside game that included a double-double from Kyle Alexander and 10 points from Admiral Schofield. Lamonte Turner was the help from the outside with 17 points. But Williams was the star of the show, leading the elite inside game.

Playing against a physical, defensive-oriented top 25 team on a neutral court, Williams had 22 points and 8 rebounds while going 8-of-18 from the field. He also hit two three-pointers In overtime, he scored eight of the Vols’ 15 points and assisted on another bucket. So he proved he could take over as well.

This was the crucial game for Rocky Top and the turning point for Barnes. Ironically, a loss to Purdue a year later in the NCAA Tournament would end Williams’s time in Knoxville. But after this showing, it was clear that the Vols had arrived.

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