Rick Barnes mystified by Vols' poor performance as Tennessee loses for second straight game

Cincinnati's Jarron Cumberland dribbles past Tennessee's John Fulkerson, right, during the first half of Wednesday's game in Cincinnati. / AP photo by John Minchillo
Cincinnati's Jarron Cumberland dribbles past Tennessee's John Fulkerson, right, during the first half of Wednesday's game in Cincinnati. / AP photo by John Minchillo

CINCINNATI - A defense that had been among the nation's best got shredded - and that wasn't the only thing that went wrong for the 21st-ranked Tennessee men's basketball team in its first true road game this season.

The Volunteers couldn't hit a 3-pointer and couldn't run anything consistently on offense Wednesday night during a 78-66 loss to Cincinnati, a showing that left Tennessee coach Rick Barnes befuddled.

"We did some things that were mind-boggling," he said.

Trevon Scott had 15 points as one of six Cincinnati players who scored in double figures, and the Bearcats got 46 points in the paint, attacking the out-of-place Vols with backdoor layups.

For the second straight game, Barnes came up short in his attempt to get career victory No. 700. Only 21 Division I coaches have reached that mark.

The Volunteers (7-3) were coming off a 51-47 loss to No. 13 Memphis at home this past Saturday that highlighted their offensive shortcomings. This time, the biggest problems were on defense - a surprise because the Vols hadn't given up 70 points in a game this season.

"Oh, it was awful," Barnes said. "And I'm really disappointed in our defensive breakdown, the way we did it. I mean, it came from our older guys, too. When you go on the road for the first time, you expect your older guys to be the ones who lead the way."

The Bearcats (7-4) got the better of a back-and-forth game by going on a late run. Keith Williams had a steal and a layup during a 9-0 spurt that put the Bearcats in control 67-57 with 3:27 left. Williams finished with 11 points and five rebounds.

Cincinnati was coming off back-to-back losses at Xavier and Colgate, but the Bearcats played their most cohesive game under first-year coach John Brannen.

"The biggest thing is they get the chance to see what happens when they all stay together," Brannen said. "This is what it looks like. We've got to sustain it."

Tennessee, which won 31 games last season and reached the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16, has lost back-to-back games for the first time since falling to Arkansas and Auburn in 2017-18.

"I don't think we were locked in on defense," said John Fulkerson, who had a team-high 14 points. '"There were things that we usually do and we should have done, and we didn't. And it came back to bite us."

The Bearcats led 38-34 after a wide-open first half that was full of turnovers. They shot 64% from the field, with Jaevin Cumberland making four of his five shots to lead the way.

The Vols dug in defensively at the start of the second half - Cincinnati missed eight of its first 12 shots - and neither team managed to get much of an advantage. There were two ties and four lead changes before Cincinnati went on its pivotal run.

Tennessee went only 3-of-15 from beyond the arc and had trouble running plays, especially late in the game as Cincinnati pulled away.

"When guys start thinking, 'I've got to do it myself,' we don't have a team like that," Barnes said. "And if it takes more of these losses to prove it to them, that's what will happen. We've got to be a team. We don't have one guy we can rely on."

The Vols have struggled at times on offense this season, but their defense had been consistent. They came in fifth nationally in field-goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot 36.2%. The Bearcats made 56.4%, the most by a Vols' opponent this season.

The Bearcats' biggest questions revolve around Jarron Cumberland, the returning American Athletic Conference player of the year. He played the past two games with a sore hip and shot only 27% from the field. Against Tennessee, he had 10 points and six turnovers before fouling out.

"He put in two really good days of practice," Brannen said. "He put extra work in. I haven't coached the Jarron Cumberland that we all know and love. When I say I haven't coached him yet, he hasn't been in the shape and healthy enough to be that guy. It's coming."

Tennessee and Cincinnati hadn't met since Jan. 4, 1993, when the Bearcats won at home 79-58. The Bearcats - who will visit the Vols' Thompson-Boling Arena next season - now lead the series 6-1, including 4-0 in Cincinnati.

Tennessee hosts Jacksonville State at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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