As the Tennessee Volunteers hit the road traveling to Florida, they did so with pride, knowing they placed within the country’s top 10 teams. Going into the match, they were looking for an easy win to crack the top 5. No one could have prepared for what happened when refs blew the final whistle. Perhaps the biggest upset so far this season, the unranked Gators crushing the Volunteers with a gap so wide there was no hope of making a comeback. At the end of the game, the Gators owned their home court and went back victorious, 75-49.
Many spectators and reporters say the Gators are probably the most challenging team to judge; you never know how they will perform. It is safe to say, not a single person knew that they were going to beat the Volunteers. Right off the bat, the Gators came out swinging, putting up everything they had to earn themselves an early lead. The Gators easily put up baskets before the game was 7 minutes into play, giving them a 6-point lead. Admittedly, each group looked a little sloppy, with turnovers happening left and right. After their shaky start, the Gators picked up their act midway through the first half and started connecting as a team.
The Gators’ defense was immaculate to the Volunteers. Eleven minutes into the first half, the Gators had 18 points on the board with the Volunteers only 4 behind. It took the Volunteers nearly 4 minutes to put up another point for themselves; meanwhile, the Gators secured 7 more for a total of 25. The gap remained for the rest of the half, and the Volunteers were unable to take over again before it was over, Gators feeling good with a 38-27 lead.
After halftime, the mentality, energy, and effort did not stop the Gators. The Volunteers took many shots, but it seems as though nerves and fear overtook each player. It was not that they did not have opportunities to score; they just could not hit the basket. Many jump shots and layups were missed and overturned, giving the Gators back their edge. The Gators were careful and cautious when taking possession of the ball when handling it, and it paid off. Once again, midway through the second half, the Gators had the upper hand leading the game at 44-55. The defense denied the Volunteers any scoring chances for the next 4 minutes, keeping the Volunteers at 44 while the Gators rose to 68. With just 5 minutes left to go, the Gators earned another 7 points while the Volunteers only an extra 5 to put the game at rest; 75-49.
Undeniably the biggest thing that kept the Volunteers from a win was the number of turnovers they had. Overall, they gave up 18 turnovers as opposed to the Gators 15. Granted, they were close in numbers, but the difference was that the Gators took advantage when they got the ball back, the Volunteers did not. Percentages were also in favor of Florida in terms of shooting. They had 49.2% for field goals, three-pointers came in at 31.6%, and free throws were at 63.6%.
The Gator’s players ended the game in style. Guards Noah Locke (14 points), Tyree Appleby (13 points), and Tre Mann (12 points) were the best players of the night; all three of them started as well. This defeat was even more exciting because the Gators beat the Volunteers without their second-leading scorer Colin Castleton and third-leading scorer Scottie Lewis.
By the end of the match, Volunteers fans were not happy, but the Gators campus was ecstatic. They surprised the nation with a victory and became a team name that the Volunteers will for sure remember for a long time.
Up Next
Gators hit the road to travel to Georgia to face off against the Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday, January 23rd. With a 2:00 p.m. ET tip-off, who will be live streaming this match is still TBD.
The Volunteers look to rebound after a loss and will play No. 19 Missouri at home at Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday, January 23rd. This will start at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be watched on SECN.
