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Tennessee basketball: Remembering Vols five previous SEC/Big 12 Challenge games

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 26: Wesley Harris #21 of the West Virginia Mountaineers, Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers, Derek Culver #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers, and Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers work for position before a play during the second half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 83-66.(Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 26: Wesley Harris #21 of the West Virginia Mountaineers, Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers, Derek Culver #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers, and Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers work for position before a play during the second half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 83-66.(Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images /

4. Jan. 30, 2016

Tennessee Volunteers at TCU Horned Frogs

TCU wins 75-63

One year after a great win over the Kansas State Wildcats, Tennessee basketball was rebuilding again. Rick Barnes had taken over in a splash hire by Dave Hart after Donnie Tyndall could only last a year, and Barnes was dealing with a mess. It was clear that this season would be a rough road for the Vols, and it certainly was, as this team would end up finishing 15-19.

UT was slated to play the TCU Horned Frogs on the road in this year’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge. At the time, they were 10-10, and despite coming off a loss at the Alabama Crimson Tide, they had beaten the No. 24 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks just one week earlier. So there was some excitement surrounding the program.

Considering their win at the Mississippi State Bulldogs earlier in the month, there was also a belief that they could compete on the road. And TCU was 9-11 at the time and would eventually go to 12-21 on the season. Well, things started off right. UT had a red-hot first half and took a 41-27 lead into halftime.

However, the Vols’ defense went to sleep and allowed TCU to open the second half on a 10-0 run. then they had another 10-0 run later in the half, eventually building a nine-point lead. Barnes’ team was outscored 48-22 in the second half and lost 75-63. They rebounded with a win over the No. 20 ranked Kentucky Wildcats, but this was a blown opportunity. Kevin Punter had 24 points.

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