Vols T logoKNOXVILLE – The moment that much of the Big Orange Nation had waited more than a year to see - or at least that loyal portion that gives the slightest thought to college basketball in November – arrived with 18:50 to play in Saturday’s second half.
Shockingly tied at 47 with Division II Florida Southern in their opening exhibition game, the Tennessee Vols’ Jeronne Maymon split a double team well enough to shovel a pass to fellow bruise brother Jarnell Stokes, who roughly flushed Maymon’s assist through the goal.
UT was never threatened again, eventually rolling to a 105-80 victory over the Moccasins before a generously estimated crowd of 13,994 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
“Jeronne understands the game,” said Stokes, who finished with game highs in points (27) and rebounds (10). “That was something that we were missing last year.”
Because the 6-foot-8, 260-pound Maymon missed all of last season with a knee injury, the Vols missed the NCAA tournament for the second time in Cuonzo Martin’s two years as coach, despite Stokes averaging a double-double in Southeastern Conference games.