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Tennessee basketball 2021-2022 season recap: Ranking the top 10 wins

By Caleb Calhoun

Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC championship game at Amelie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC championship game at Amelie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) looks to pass the ball during a basketball game between Tennessee and LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022.Tennesseelsu0122 0577
Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) looks to pass the ball during a basketball game between Tennessee and LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022.Tennesseelsu0122 0577 /

50. 64. 534. 529. Thompson-Boling Arena. Rank: 7. Knoxville, Tenn.. Saturday, Jan. 22

Game No. 18

This was where Tennessee basketball finally began to hit its stride. The Vols had started off SEC play 2-3, including a loss at the LSU Tigers, and at 11-5 overall, they were just barely in the top 25, at No. 24 in the AP Poll and tied with the UConn Huskies for that 25th spot in the Coaches Poll.

Earlier in the week, they beat the Vanderbilt Commodores on the road. This was the game to define them, though. In a rematch with LSU, Will Wade’s team, ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll, started jawing with the Vols thanks to a decision by an LSU staff member to antagonize fans, and the teams had to be separated at midcourt.

It turned out Wade and LSU were all talk. Rocky Top used that motivation to jump out to a 14-0 start, and they held on for a 64-50 win, with the game never really getting close. Santiago Vescovi shot 5-of-11 from three with 16 points, Uros Plavsic had 12 points, and Kennedy Chandler dished out six assists on the day.

Defense told the story as well, with LSU being held to under 40 percent from the field. Although it got started at Vanderbilt, this is what really sparked what would become eight wins in nine games and eight straight SEC wins for the Vols to make it clear that they were legit title contenders.

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