Rick Barnes' best wins and moments at Tennessee
2024 vs No. 11 Auburn, No. 14 Alabama, and No. 17 South Carolina
Tennessee went on one of the best runs i have seen as a Tennessee basketball fan to end the 2024 regular season. These three games specifically were pivotal in Tennessee winning the SEC Championship this year. It’s not a single win, but three straight wins, within the span of seven days to win the SEC.
This seven-day stretch was a test of Tennessee's grit, and willingness to give their all on the court with a championship on the line. It was the toughest stretch of basketball I’ve seen in a regular season and the Vols ran through those three games, winning all three for the regular season championship.
It started with a win at Arkansas as the start of the seven-game win streak to secure the regular season SEC Championship. The Vols proceeded to beat Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Texas A&M before heading down the toughest stretch of the season.
While Dalton Knecht had already been dominating the SEC, he all but won the SEC Player of the Year award against No. 11 Auburn. Knecht dropped 39 points against the Tigers and led the Vols to victory.
The win over Auburn, followed by the Alabama and South Carolina wins showed everyone what type of team Tennessee was going to be heading into the postseason. Barnes' patented hard-nosed, stingy defense is going to be the headline for the Vols with the ability to go on big runs offensively, led by Knecht.
Next. Takeaways from Tennessee's tough win over Texas. Takeaways from Tennessee's tough win over Texas. dark
Barnes will look to bring another great moment and a win or two this weekend as the Vols head into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Vols will play the Creighton Blue Jays Friday night at 10:09 PM ET for a spot in the Elite Eight.