This is how you get back on track! Entering tip-off between the No. 8 Tennessee Vols vs. No. 5 Florida, let's be real here, not a lot of people thought the home team was going to be able to post a win. Not only was Zakai Zeigler ruled out with a knee injury, but big man Igor Milicic Jr. also was ruled out with the flu.
Despite that, Tennessee was able to get some revenge on the Gators from the 30-point loss earlier in the campaign, taking down Florida 64-44 on Saturday in Knoxville. Early on, it looked like Florida was going to dominate play, but Tennessee woke up and improved to 18-4 on the year. Here's how they were able to get the job done:
3. Jordan Gainey once again stepped up when this team needed him to
With Zeigler out with his bum knee, another guard needed to take charge and deliver for head man Rick Barnes and his coaching staff. That's exactly what Jordan Gainey was able to do on Saturday, scoring 16 points. Gainey was the floor general with Zeigler sidelined, making plays on both sides of the floor. He played the exact way this team needed him to. Things are of course made better for him with the Vols recording a win.
2. Tennessee's defense made life tough for Florida
One of the main takeaways from this one was how terrible the Gators looked shooting the ball. Remember when Tennessee couldn't buy a bucket when the two squads faced off in Gainesville? The roles were flipped this time around, with Florida shooting 4-of-27 from 3-point land.
It's hard to imagine Florida shooting that ball that terribly from downtown, but that's exactly what happened. Keep in mind, though, that Tennessee's defense was fantastic, with the guys playing with passion on D. Keeping the Top 5 Gators offense to only 44 points is a massive accomplishment.
1. Chaz Lanier had a smile back on his face and for good reason
How awesome was it to see Chaz Lanier not only drilling shots with consistency, but also having a smile on his face at the same time? The star transfer had hit a pretty bad rough streak before taking the floor against Florida.
Everyone knew that if Tennessee was going to have a prayer in pulling off this win, the Vols would need Lanier to be at his best. Thankfully, No. 2 finished with a game-high 19 points, shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Boom.