Knoxville, Tenn. – After Tennessee secured a massive get-back win over Florida, the Vols returned to Food City Center to face the Missouri Tigers.
It would be a 40-minute battle for the Vols who despite mounting 10-point leads kept letting Missouri back in. The game ended on a four-plus minute scoring drought for the Vols but timely free throws kept the lead out of reach for the Tigers.
After missing the Florida game, Igor Miličić Jr. (flu-like symptoms) and Zakai Zeigler (right knee injury) made their presence felt. They combined for 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists.
My three takeaways following the 85-81 win over the Tigers.
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Tenessee gets happy from the perimeter
After missing one game due to a right knee injury, Zakai Ziegler returned to the starting lineup against the Tigers.
30 seconds into the game, he’d cash in from beyond the three-point line to give Tennessee a quick 3-0 lead. The last time Tennessee scored on its opening possession came five games ago against Georgia. It happened on a made jumper by Jahmai Mashack.
The Vols didn’t get many looks from the perimeter in the first half but were efficient in their opportunities. 4-5 from the three-point line, halfway to their season average.
It wasn’t until the second half that they truly got happy from three.
After just one look from the arc in the first half, Chaz Lanier took advantage. After missing his first two tries, he nailed back-to-back triples to regain the lead and then extend it, 54-50.
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Igor Milicic Jr. has been engaged
Igor Milicic Jr. arguably had his best game of the season against Kentucky when he knocked down four three-pointers and six field goals en route to a 19-point performance.
He missed Florida due to flu-like symptoms but seemed to pick up where he left off against Missouri.
The transfer gave the team the spark it needed in the opening minutes of the second half.
In his first four minutes of play in the second half, he essentially had the same stat line as the 14 minutes he put up in the first half.
3-3 from the field, 1-1 from the three-point line, two rebounds, and one steal. He had two blocks in the first half.
His tenacious effort at the rim led to a massive putback tipin for the Vols and started an 11-1 run.
The next three buckets, three treys by three different Vols, eventually gave UT a 46-44 lead, its first lead since the start of the game.
His defensive efforts are just as impressive.
At the 12:55 mark, he was leading the team in rebounds, blocks, and steals.
Later, Zeigler dishes it to Milicic who thought about the baseline three. He passed up on it when he saw a wide-open lane right to the rim and cashed in the layup.
As the game wore on, it was more like the offense was happy the way they had the Tigers on its heels. Such as Felix Okpara on a quick exchange with Zeigler in the corner. Zeigler carried it to the top of the arc as Okpara rolled to the rim, Zeigler threw up the alley loop to his favorite target, 56-53 Vols.
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Vols defense handling red-hot offenses
In four consecutive games, Tennessee has faced an opponent who’s top-17 in the country in scoring offense.
No. 3 Kentucky, No. 8 Auburn, No. 16 Florida, and No. 17 Missouri.
Tennessee held the first three opponents well under its season averages.
Crashing the boards was a huge key for Tennessee in this matchup.
Cade Phillips was a prime example of keeping defensive focus and not letting up second-chance points in the post.
On a would-be fast break, the defense brought the heat and swarmed the rim. The possession for the Tigers eventually ended with Phillips deflecting their shot.
On Missouri’s first possession of the game, Jahmai Mashack’s attention to detail shined on defense when he scrambled for a loose ball on the ground. Unfortunately, the Vols didn’t capitalize on offense.
Defensive IQ showed signs of improvement as well. Head Coach Rick Barnes has harped on not fouling three-point shooters and the Vols have mostly struggled with that. Mostly due to being too competitive at times.
Late in the first half, Missouri fired off a last-second three-pointer from the top of the arc and Lanier stayed poised only keeping a hand in his face. The contested shot ended with Tennessee grabbing the defensive rebound and drawing the foul after a reach by Missouri.
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