A businessman like approach served the Vols well today in defeating the Auburn Tigers in Tampa. Tennessee blitzed the Auburn defense to the tune of 94 points in the 94-85 victory. 

There was no chest bumping, no dancing, just a tough hard nosed effort by the Vols. You could see the intensity on the faces of the Vols and Coach Pearl from the outset. We have become accustomed to the high flying Vols wearing smiles on their faces and visibly enjoying wins like this in the past with chest bumps and high fives. Today the Vols had a different look. They looked focused on taking Tennessee to the championship game of the SEC tournament for the first time in twenty years.  

Coach Pearl has already taken Tennessee to heights never achieved in Vol basketball history. Under the watch of the Vol head man, Tennessee has risen to their first number one ranking in history, they have won three division titles in the past four years, and the Vols have finished the regular season with a better record than Kentucky four consecutive years. Tennessee is the first team in SEC history to do that. 

Now, Coach Pearl is looking to add a new chapter to his achievements as head coach at UT. He has the Vols in the championship game for the first time in twenty years. Since the tournament was re-instituted in 1979 the Vols have only been a participant in the championship two times, now you can make that three. 

Earlier this season I wrote that Auburn had no business beating Tennessee after the win by Auburn on the plains. I have to make an apology to the Tigers. Since that game Auburn has been playing exceptional basketball, and I believe they are deserving of an NCAA tournament bid. Although the Vols won by nine points today, they had no answer for Korvotney Barber, Rasheem Barrett or for Tay Waller. Barber finished with 24 points, Barrett added 18, and Tay Waller scored 17. 

I was getting a little worried early in the game when Auburn went on a run to take a 15-10 lead, but Tennessee followed with a 20-6 run to take a 30-21 lead and kept the Tigers at bay for the remainder of the game. Wayne Chism proved to be Tennessee’s most important player in the first half as he scored 16 first half points. Wayne knocked down 4 of 7 three point shots to really get Tennessee rolling.  

The Good:

The Vols shot the ball extremely well today especially in the first half leading to an 11 point lead at the break. The Vols finished the game shooting 57% from the field. A remarkable statistic considering Auburn has the best defense in the SEC. The Tigers have only allowed 64 points per game by its opponents.

Tennessee was also 9-19 from three point range.  The Vols are better when everyone contributes and that certainly rang true today. The Vols offensive attack included 19 assist and five Vols scored in double figures. 

Tennessee grabbed 31 rebounds off Auburn misses; the Tigers only could muster nine offensive rebounds. Tennessee out-rebounded the Tigers 44-26 today after being embarrassed in Auburn on the boards earlier this year.  

Tyler Smith continues to be a leader on this team. When Tyler doesn’t press, and when he lets the game come to him he can be brilliant. Tyler finished with 23 points today. 

Wayne Chism was a real spark in the first half with 16 points, and finished the game scoring a careeer high 27 points.   

The Bad:
I didn’t think it was a great effort defensively by the Vols, but much of the credit has to go to the big three from Auburn. They knocked down some contested three points shots, and also drained some difficult two’s.  

Tennessee now advances to the championship game for the first time in twenty years. As a fan, win or lose, just getting to the championship with such a young team is a thrill.