The Tennessee Volunteers are entering the NCAA tournament amid their most consistent offensive stretch of the season.
Known mostly for a defense that has been the stingiest in the Southeastern Conference all winter, the Vols have scored at least 70 points in six consecutive contests for the first time since tipping off in early November. The streak began with the 79-76 edging of Alabama on Jahmai Mashack’s 32-footer at the buzzer on March 1, and it was extended through last weekend’s SEC tournament in Nashville, which ended with Tennessee’s 86-77 loss to Florida in Sunday’s championship game.
Chaz Lanier has averaged 17.0 points during this six-game stretch, while Jordan Gainey has averaged 15.5 points and Zakai Zeigler 14.3. Each has also scored at least 23 points on one occasion.
“We’re just finding guys open,” Vols junior forward Felix Okpara said earlier this week in a news conference. “We’re getting to the sweet spots. Zakai is driving to the lane and creating something.
“We’re getting fouled. We’re going to the free-throw line.”