KNOXVILLE – Any loss in mid-February is damaging.
But considering what’s next – a trip to No. 18 Vanderbilt on Tuesday – Tennessee’s home defeat to Georgia on Saturday might have been an even bigger blow to a UT teetering toward the wrong side of the NCAA tournament bubble.
“Vanderbilt’s better than Georgia,” UT coach Bruce Pearl said after the Vols’ 69-63 loss. “Vanderbilt’s tougher than Georgia. Vanderbilt’s more physical than Georgia. And we got out-toughed and out-physicaled, and the team we play next is bigger, stronger, tougher and just as angry about losing a game to us.”
UT (16-11, 6-6 Southeastern Conference) rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to beat the Commodores (20-6, 8-4) last month. Vanderbilt has won eight of 10 games since losing at UT and is currently riding a five-game winning streak.
Like Georgia, the Commodores have an inside-outside balance that’s difficult for opposing defenses to handle. Guard John Jenkins leads the SEC in scoring (19.9 points per game), and guard Brad Tinsley is a capable shooter anywhere on the floor. Vanderbilt’s frontcourt of Jeffery Taylor and Festus Ezeli average 27 points and 12 rebounds between them.