Tennessee basketball’s revenge win vs. LSU was so much more than just a win

Anybody who saw Tennessee basketball roar off to a 14-0 start against the LSU Tigers Saturday night could tell they were playing for much more than just a win. Heck, it was about more than just scoring a top 25 win and getting back at a team that beat them earlier in the year.

The Vols, ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the Coaches Poll, exorcised demons against a program that has given them fits in recent years. They also overcame the concern that they were falling apart, and in the process, they humiliated a team and a coach that, well, deserved to be humiliated. Everybody in the SEC agrees with that.

In terms of demons, LSU, who came into the game ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll, had won every game against UT dating back to 2019. That year, LSU won 82-80 in overtime in Baton Rouge, La., costing the Vols the regular season SEC Championship.

Since then, Will Wade’s program has won every game. There have been concerns that Rick Barnes can’t handle aggressive coaches who consistently play up-tempo like Wade or Bruce Pearl, and until Saturday, he hadn’t won a game against either of them in four years. Winning this one two weeks after losing 79-67 was a huge deal.

Beyond Rocky Top’s problems with LSU, though, there are also just the personal feelings. Wade is easily the most hated coach in the SEC. He was blatantly implicated in numerous alleged recruiting violations, and he and LSU have completely thumbed their nose at the league about it.

LSU has also developed a reputation as a dirty team. At one point, the announcers publicly called out the fact that they try to initiate contact rather than go for rebounds when the other team puts up shots. Eric Gaines drew a flagrant foul for doing that to Josiah-Jordan James on a play. This goes back to a shot they took at Grant Williams in that 2019 game.

Then there’s what happened before this game. A basketball was thrown into the stands during warmups, and all signs suggested that it came from an LSU manager. This led to everybody, players and coaches, exchanging words on the court. Then it got heated again between everybody heading into halftime.

Both fights were able to motivate Tennessee basketball, though. We already mentioned them setting the tone early with that 14-0 start. Well, they went on an 8-2 run to open the second half, so in both cases, they took LSU’s jawing and turned it into dominance on the court.

What stands out, though, is Uros Plavsic leading the charge. As he continues to emerge, having scored double figures for his second straight game, he has begun to show more edge. Seeing him ready to fight at the beginning and him being quoted about LSU wanting to win a fight more than the game at the end speaks to who he is becoming.

That’s where the Vols got another win. After losing in embarrassing fashion at the Kentucky Wildcats last week, there was reason to worry that they were coming undone. However, Barnes had an ace in the hole in Plavsic and was just waiting to use him.

Now, Tennessee basketball has a new energy. The Vols still have plenty of issues to work out, but at 13-5 and 4-3 in the SEC, they have talent, they have edge and they have enough experience. Saturday showed they also have a good bit of mental toughness, and that’s a good sign for them going forward.