Michigan Delivers The Final Blow To Tennessee’s Season After A Rough Night Shooting For Vols – OutKick

INDIANAPOLIS — Who knew {that a} spherical of 32 recreation may really feel like a Closing 4 sort environment? This was the case on Saturday evening, with a sold-out crowd watching the slugfest between 3-seed Tennessee and 11-seed Michigan.

Closing rating: 76-68, Michigan.

It was the approaching out celebration to the remainder of faculty basketball simply how good Kennedy Chandler actually was. This recreation become a Chandler exhibition within the second half, whereas his teammates struggled to seek out any sort of rhythm on offense. The Vols have been 2-15 from three-point vary on the 2:35 mark of the second half, struggling to seek out something however a layup.

It was a recreation through which the Vols by no means appeared comfy on offense, solely getting something from Chandler, as his teammates have been struggling to seek out something from contained in the paint or exterior the arc. This was not the Tennessee group we’ve seen for the higher half of the season, it was totally different. They have been sucked into the sport plan of Michigan they usually by no means received out of the opening. You may put this recreation on loads of people, however not having a solution for when issues aren’t hitting from behind the arc is inexcusable.

Tennessee tried to make use of Uros Plavsic to manage Hunter Dickinson tonight, however that didn’t work. Dickinson went off for 27 factors and 11 rebounds, inflicting issues all night for the Vols within the paint. Even when Tennessee would attempt to change off and let Fulkerson or Jonas Aidoo guard him, nothing was altering.

The Vols scored 20 factors off 15 Michigan turnovers, and put themselves in a pleasant place with simply over eight minutes to go. A six-point cushion for Tennessee with 8:37 left, with nothing falling behind the arc, and but they nonetheless had the lead. However it was the Michigan run that was going to finish the season for the Vols.

Led by Eli Brooks, the Wolverines went on a 14-4 run on the Vols, taking the 68-64 lead with simply over 2 minutes remaining, by no means wanting again. It was the nightmare that Tennessee followers have been hoping wouldn’t happen, but it surely occurred. I don’t assume many would’ve thought this Rick Barnes-led squad would come out and fall into the lure that Michigan laid, however I’ll say that the open photographs have been there. As unhealthy because the scoreboard and stat sheet appeared, but it surely was loopy to assume the Vols truly had a lead.

However this additionally appeared just like the Tennessee group we’ve seen all season lengthy in the case of offensive woes. Going 5 minutes and not using a basket, taking pictures the worst proportion from three-point vary all season lengthy and the Wolverines taking pictures 50 p.c from the sphere will trigger you to begin spring break early. That is what occurred on Saturday evening. There’s nothing else, nothing extra, it was only a unhealthy evening to have a nasty evening taking pictures.

There additionally gave the impression to be a struggle out of Michigan that the Vols have been having a tough time reciprocating late within the recreation. Perhaps it was the momentum or perhaps it was the emotion of the Wolverines over the ultimate 4 minutes, however they out-hustled a group that not often will get out-hustled.

There’ll now be loads of followers of Tennessee basketball who can be rightfully pissed off, questioning if this faculty will ever take the following step with all of the expertise that they’ve. It’s laborious to assume that this Tennessee group received’t go additional with a participant like Kennedy Chandler, who completed with 19 factors and 9 assists.

However we’re right here and now the chatter will start. For a group with a lot expertise, heading residence within the second spherical shouldn’t be the top consequence for this season. Michigan deserved to be heading onto the Candy 16, whereas the Vols shot themselves to an early exit.

Now going ahead this group will look a bit totally different, particularly when Chandler decides to show professional and John Fulkerson cleans out his locker for the ultimate time.

This recreation of basketball is merciless and tonight proved that narrative for Tennessee, who’re left questioning “what if” once more.