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Wiedmer: Can inconsistent Vols again topple Kentucky in Knoxville?

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21, 2017 - The University of Tennessee Volunteer Basketball Team bench celebrates during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Craig Bisacre/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21, 2017 - The University of Tennessee Volunteer Basketball Team bench celebrates during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Craig Bisacre/Tennessee Athletics KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21, 2017 - The University of Tennessee Volunteer Basketball Team bench celebrates during the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Craig Bisacre/Tennessee Athletics

By Mark Wiedmer 4 min read

photo Mark Wiedmer

KNOXVILLE – Sometime early Friday afternoon, Garrett Medenwald – the University of Tennessee strength and conditioning coach for men’s basketball – approached head coach Rick Barnes about the physical condition of his Volunteers.

“Coach, the guys are really sore,” Medenwald said about the players following a particularly rough Thursday practice.

Replied Barnes: “They should have played harder the other night (at Ole Miss).”

Sore or not, Rick’s Runts played exceptionally hard Saturday night against Mississippi State, whipping the visitors by an exceedingly comfortable 91-74 score following a nervous 37-34 halftime lead.

The makes Tennessee 10-9 overall and 3-4 in the Southeastern Conference heading into Tuesday night’s visit from No. 5 Kentucky and may finally ease the burning and ringing in the Vols’ ears from their coach’s anger.