All-American Dalton Knecht leads No. 2 Tennessee back to the Sweet 16 with 62-58 win over Texas
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Tennessee Volunteers are back in the Sweet 16 under coach Rick Barnes. Now the question becomes if they can advance beyond this point.
Dalton Knecht scored 18 points and made four free throws in the final 8.8 seconds as the Volunteers topped Texas 62-58 on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
Second-seeded Tennessee advanced to face No. 3 Creighton, an 86-73 winner in double overtime over No. 11 Oregon.
Tennessee has reached the Sweet 16 twice before under Barnes, but lost both times. This time, however, it has an Associated Press All-American in Knecht on its side, which Texas coach Rodney Terry said can be the difference in making a deep run in the tournament.
“Any time you have star power with a guy that’s a really hard one-on-one matchup that could take over a game, that gives you an opportunity to be elite,” Terry said. “They have that. They have a guy that on any given night he could go for 30 in a game, and he could change the outcome of a game. They’ve got a bona fide star in Dalton, and he could definitely carry those guys away down the stretch.”
Knecht shot just 5 of 18 from the field, but his free throw shooting was clutch amid distractive screams, howls and whistling in the arena.
“We were walking out of that timeout, and I told (point guard Zakai Zeigler) I want the ball in my hands," Knecht said. "He had trust in me, and the whole team had trust in me. Despite my shooting performance today, they had trust in me to go make those shots.”
Knecht wasn't the only one to struggle from the field as the Volunteers shot just 34% as a team.
“These are the kinds of games in the tournament you get bounced when you shoot as poorly as we did, but we found a way with our defense,” Barnes said. “The 10 extra shots that we got (via offensive rebounds) were obviously important to us. But had to get it done on the defensive end.”
Jonas Aidoo had 11 points and Tobe Awaka added 10 for the Volunteers (26-8), helping Barnes beat the team he coached for 17 seasons.
Tyrese Hunter and Chendall Weaver each had 13 points for seventh-seeded Texas (21-13).
The Vols shot just 29% from the field in the first half, but managed to take a 38-29 lead into the locker room.
Knecht struggled early on, missing his first four shots, including an air ball on a fadeaway jumper. He converted his first field goal with 90 seconds remaining in the first half, putting Tennessee up by 11.
Knecht began to flex his muscles with a pair of second-half dunks, one of which came after he grabbed a missed transition 3 in the air and jammed it home with two hands. And he shook his head in a sign of relief after finally getting a 3 to drop in the second half.
But the Longhorns cut the lead to 45-42 with seven minutes left after Max Abmas buried a 3, forcing Barnes to call a timeout.
Disu then came up with the defensive play of the game, blocking Aidoo on a drive to give Texas a chance to tie it up. But Disu missed a layup and Hunter couldn't convert on a putback on the other end, and the Longhorns could never get the big shot they needed.
After Knecht hit two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, Hunter splashed a 3 from 28 feet to cut the lead to 60-58. But Texas sent Knecht back to the line with 3 seconds left and he knocked down two more free throws.
BIG PICTURE
Texas: The Longhorns struggled down the stretch of the season. They lost to Kansas State in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament, killing some of their momentum heading into the NCAA tourney. “We started the season with our two big men injured, get them back, and find a way to continue to prove people wrong,” Abmas said. “They continue to count us out, but we never paid attention to that. We just focused on us.”
Tennessee: Knecht has given the Vols the big-time scorer they need to possibly advance out of the Sweet 16 for the first time under Barnes.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Dylan Disu vs. Jonas Aidoo (Zakai Zeigler gains possession) | |||
19:42 | Jonas Aidoo turnover (lost ball) (Ithiel Horton steals) | |||
19:19 | Max Abmas misses three point jump shot | |||
19:17 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
19:08 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point layup | |||
19:06 | Max Abmas defensive rebound | |||
18:56 | +3 | Dylan Disu makes three point jump shot (Max Abmas assists) | 3-0 | |
18:34 | Jonas Aidoo turnover (lost ball) | |||
18:23 | Dylan Disu misses two point hook shot | |||
18:21 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
18:13 | +2 | Josiah-Jordan James makes two point driving bank jump shot | 3-2 | |
17:49 | Tyrese Hunter turnover (traveling) | |||
17:26 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point driving layup | |||
17:24 | Max Abmas defensive rebound | |||
17:14 | Max Abmas turnover (bad pass) | |||
17:04 | Dalton Knecht misses two point layup | |||
17:02 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound | |||
17:00 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point putback layup | |||
16:58 | Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
16:33 | Ithiel Horton turnover (bad pass) | |||
16:25 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point driving dunk | 3-4 | |
15:54 | Josiah-Jordan James personal foul (Dylan Disu draws the foul) | |||
15:54 | TV timeout | |||
15:32 | Longhorns turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
15:06 | Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot | |||
15:02 | Volunteers offensive rebound | |||
14:41 | Max Abmas blocks Santiago Vescovi's three point jump shot | |||
14:39 | Max Abmas defensive rebound | |||
14:34 | Tobe Awaka shooting foul (Kadin Shedrick draws the foul) | |||
14:34 | Kadin Shedrick misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
14:34 | +1 | Kadin Shedrick makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-4 | |
14:21 | Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot | |||
14:19 | Tobe Awaka offensive rebound | |||
14:18 | Brock Cunningham shooting foul (Tobe Awaka draws the foul) | |||
14:18 | +1 | Tobe Awaka makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-5 | |
14:18 | +1 | Tobe Awaka makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-6 | |
13:58 | Max Abmas misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
13:56 | Tobe Awaka defensive rebound | |||
13:48 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
13:46 | Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound | |||
13:38 | Tyrese Hunter misses two point driving layup | |||
13:36 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
13:33 | Dalton Knecht offensive foul (Chendall Weaver draws the foul) | |||
13:33 | Dalton Knecht turnover (offensive foul) | |||
13:33 | Tyrese Hunter turnover (out of bounds) | |||
13:29 | +2 | Tobe Awaka makes two point driving layup | 4-8 | |
12:59 | Dillon Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Gainey steals) | |||
12:43 | Tobe Awaka turnover (lost ball) (Dylan Disu steals) | |||
12:24 | Dylan Disu misses two point hook shot | |||
12:22 | Dillon Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
12:19 | +2 | Chendall Weaver makes two point driving layup | 6-8 | |
12:02 | Zakai Zeigler misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
12:00 | Tobe Awaka offensive rebound | |||
11:59 | Tobe Awaka misses two point putback layup | |||
11:57 | Tobe Awaka offensive rebound | |||
11:55 | +2 | Tobe Awaka makes two point putback layup | 6-10 | |
11:38 | Tobe Awaka personal foul (Dylan Disu draws the foul) | |||
11:38 | TV timeout | |||
11:24 | +2 | Dylan Disu makes two point pullup jump shot | 8-10 | |
11:08 | Dylan Disu personal foul (Jonas Aidoo draws the foul) | |||
11:06 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point alley-oop layup (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 8-12 | |
10:49 | Max Abmas misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:47 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
10:37 | Longhorns defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | Tyrese Hunter turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Gainey steals) | |||
10:18 | +2 | Jordan Gainey makes two point running layup (Jonas Aidoo assists) | 8-14 | |
10:03 | Jonas Aidoo blocks Dillon Mitchell's two point driving layup | |||
10:01 | Jordan Gainey defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | Max Abmas personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | |||
9:54 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
9:52 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound | |||
9:39 | +2 | Josiah-Jordan James makes two point driving layup | 8-16 | |
9:39 | Longhorns 30 second timeout | |||
9:39 | TV timeout | |||
9:18 | +2 | Tyrese Hunter makes two point pullup jump shot | 10-16 | |
9:03 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
9:01 | Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound | |||
8:59 | Santiago Vescovi personal foul (Tyrese Hunter draws the foul) | |||
8:47 | +2 | Kadin Shedrick makes two point cutting dunk (Dylan Disu assists) | 12-16 | |
8:33 | Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot | |||
8:31 | Max Abmas defensive rebound | |||
8:22 | Tyrese Hunter misses three point jump shot | |||
8:20 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
8:11 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:09 | Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound | |||
7:54 | Dillon Mitchell misses two point driving layup | |||
7:52 | Dillon Mitchell offensive rebound | |||
7:50 | +2 | Dillon Mitchell makes two point putback layup | 14-16 | |
7:24 | Dalton Knecht misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:22 | Longhorns defensive rebound | |||
7:22 | TV timeout | |||
7:03 | Max Abmas turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals) | |||
6:59 | Dylan Disu blocks Zakai Zeigler's two point running layup | |||
6:57 | Dalton Knecht offensive rebound | |||
6:57 | Tyrese Hunter shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
6:57 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-17 | |
6:57 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-18 | |
6:38 | +3 | Max Abmas makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Hunter assists) | 17-18 | |
6:22 | +2 | Tobe Awaka makes two point driving hook shot | 17-20 | |
6:01 | Dylan Disu misses three point jump shot | |||
5:59 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
5:48 | Santiago Vescovi misses three point jump shot | |||
5:45 | Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | Tobe Awaka personal foul (Dillon Mitchell draws the foul) | |||
5:25 | Jump ball. Max Abmas vs. Santiago Vescovi (Longhorns gains possession) | |||
5:19 | Max Abmas turnover (bad pass) (Zakai Zeigler steals) | |||
5:16 | Max Abmas shooting foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | |||
5:16 | Zakai Zeigler misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:16 | +1 | Zakai Zeigler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-21 | |
4:52 | Dylan Disu misses three point jump shot | |||
4:50 | Jordan Gainey defensive rebound | |||
4:46 | Chendall Weaver personal foul (Zakai Zeigler draws the foul) | |||
4:35 | Zakai Zeigler misses two point driving layup | |||
4:33 | Dylan Disu defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | Dylan Disu misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:19 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
4:11 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
4:09 | Tyrese Hunter defensive rebound | |||
4:04 | Ithiel Horton misses three point jump shot | |||
4:02 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
3:50 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:48 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive rebound | |||
3:41 | Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot | |||
3:39 | Ithiel Horton defensive rebound | |||
3:26 | Ithiel Horton misses three point jump shot | |||
3:24 | Brock Cunningham offensive rebound | |||
3:22 | Brock Cunningham turnover (lost ball) (Jonas Aidoo steals) | |||
3:13 | Zakai Zeigler misses three point jump shot | |||
3:11 | Ithiel Horton defensive rebound | |||
2:53 | Dylan Disu misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:51 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
2:29 | Zakai Zeigler turnover (bad pass) (Dylan Disu steals) | |||
2:21 | Chendall Weaver misses two point running pullup jump shot | |||
2:19 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
2:19 | Brock Cunningham flagrant 1 (Jordan Gainey draws the foul) | |||
2:19 | TV timeout | |||
2:19 | +1 | Jordan Gainey makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | 17-22 | |
2:19 | +1 | Jordan Gainey makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 17-23 | |
2:04 | +3 | Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Dalton Knecht assists) | 17-26 | |
1:37 | Dylan Disu misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:35 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
1:26 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point driving layup | 17-28 | |
1:05 | +2 | Ithiel Horton makes two point stepback jump shot | 19-28 | |
0:34 | Josiah-Jordan James offensive foul (Dylan Disu draws the foul) | |||
0:34 | Josiah-Jordan James turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:34 | Tyrese Hunter turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:34 | Volunteers 30 second timeout | |||
0:17 | Dalton Knecht misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
0:15 | Jahmai Mashack offensive rebound | |||
0:12 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
0:10 | Longhorns defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Max Abmas misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |