Tennessee basketball: Five things we learned about Vols in 2022 SEC Tournament

1. No style of play is too unique for Rocky Top.

An underrated part of Tennessee basketball’s success in the SEC Tournament is it came against three teams who have completely different styles of play. None of those styles were able to phase them at all, and that’s a huge testament to the type of team they have.

Against Mississippi Stage, UT was facing a team that plays inside-out, works the shot-clock and slows it down. The Vols were happy to oblige, and they managed to dominate with a 72-59 win that was easier than it even looked on the scoreboard. However, they were about to have to switch things up quickly.

Kentucky obviously relies on the dribble-drive with John Calipari and elite defense on its own. The Vols, once again, played their game and managed to win because they have the ability to do so. It was their defense that managed to stand out.

Finally, against Texas A&M, three-point shooting and transition defense at opportune times were what UT would have to deal with. Fast starts were another one. None of those things were issues for the Vols in this one. They got the fast start, going up 14-0, and they won the three-point shooting while not making transition play a factor.

What’s clear is that Tennessee basketball can play other teams’ styles and win doing so. That’s a unique makeup as a team, and it should bode well for them heading into the NCAA Tournament. It certainly worked in their favor for the SEC Tournament.