Tennessee guard Derek Reese (23) makes a steal from Vanderbilt forward Shelby Moats (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville on Saturday.KNOXVILLE – The lists of new items in Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday included an LED lighting system, a banner and retired number in the rafters and some gray shoes for the home team.
It seemed to house a whole new basketball team, too.
The Volunteers looked completely different from the squad that has scuffled through Southeastern Conference play, as Antonio Barton scored 21 points and hit five 3-point baskets Saturday afternoon to pace one of Tennessee’s best showings of the season, a 76-38 demolition of visiting Vanderbilt in front of 17,208.
Multiple Vols compared Saturday’s victory to the 35-point thrashing of ACC title contender Virginia in December as the team’s best performances.
“I think it’s one of ’em,” said coach Cuonzo Martin, now 4-2 against Vanderbilt. “Virginia was a good game. I thought we played well against Ole Miss. I thought we played well at Alabama.