Tennessee basketball: Three takeaways from Vols 75-62 win vs. Washington Huskies
A signature victory over the No. 20 ranked Washington Huskies moved Tennessee basketball to 3-0. Here are three things we learned about the Volunteers.
Maybe Tennessee basketball didn’t have so much of a drop-off after all. On a neutral floor, Rick Barnes’s young Vols scored a huge win over the No. 20 ranked Washington Huskies 75-62, a win that will likely put them in the top 25 next week.
UT had a 40-28 lead at halftime and never really let up. They consistently stayed in the lead, even as Washington threatened at times. Make no mistake, this was a quality win over a team that did have a top 25 win over the Baylor Bears to open the season.
As a result, there’s no way to ignore just how big of a deal this is. In front of a Canada offense, the Vols proved they are legit as they moved to 3-0 while the Huskies fell to 2-1. Here are three takeaways from Tennessee basketball’s win in Toronto, Ontario Saturday.
1. Unselfish play attacked every Washington defense.
As a Jim Boheim protege for over 20 years, Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins knows how to draw up complex zone defenses. But for the most part, the Vols were ready. They attacked it with patience and unselfish play, evidenced by 19 assists, including five from Josiah-Jordan James while he had nine points on 100 percent shooting.
In the halfcourt game, John Fulkerson took advantage inside with 14 points and six rebounds. But they also consistently beat the press when Hopkins tried it with extra passes and drawing fouls in the second half.
2. Jordan Bowden and Yves Pons continue to lead.
After 19 points in the second half last game, Jordan Bowden had 15 in the first half against Washington. He only finished with 18, but he remained efficient by hitting three of five three-point attempts. His only issue was missing two free throws.
Yves Pons, meanwhile, also continued to show his development for Tennessee basketball. He had 15 points and was a huge part of the Vols attacking the zone with him taking over in the middle. Oh, and he also hit a three-pointer while only having one turnover. So his dramatic improvement is beyond incredible.
3. Lamonte Turner is still trying to become a full-time point guard.
He clearly has the talent, and he is patient. But Lamonte Turner still struggles to consistently play the point guard position well. The good news for him in this game is the fact that he did have 16 points and eight assists.
But on the other hand, Turner had six turnovers. And he shot 25 percent from the field. Lots of late free throws are why he was able to score in double figures. Turner will probably get into a rhythm soon, but his consistency could be a concern.