To overcome a big hurdle, Tennessee had to overcome a big man.
The Vols fell just short.
Trying to reach the first Final Four in program history, second-seeded Tennessee lost to top-seeded Purdue and center Zach Edey 72-66 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in a thrilling showdown at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The 7-foot-4 Edey scored a career-high 40 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to outduel Tennessee graduate transfer and fellow All-American Dalton Knecht, who finished with 37 points – the most ever scored by a Vol in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’ll tell you, there’s no doubt in my mind that we thought we had a team that could win the National Championship, and I still believe that,” UT head coach Rick Barnes says. “But we ran up against a team that’s going to get ready to have a chance to play on Monday.”
The Elite Eight appearance matched the longest NCAA Tournament run in school history. The 2010 team lost by one point to Michigan State in the Elite Eight. Barnes was attempting to reach the Final Four for the second time in his coaching career, having guided Texas there in 2003.
But Tennessee (27-9) ran into a team with its own March demons to conquer and a player unlike any other in the country. The Canadian-born Edey shot 22 free throws and Tennessee had 25 fouls compared to Purdue’s 12. But Barnes refused to use the disparity or Edey’s potential advantages as an excuse for the loss.
“I think it’s hard for officials because there’s not many guys like that,” Barnes says. “The game has changed so much through the years. Whether you stay in the lane three seconds or you don’t, if you don’t ever get out, it really distorts everything. I’m not saying he did or he didn’t, but watching tape, he’s a difficult guy to officiate, I can tell you that.”
The loss ended the careers of fifth-year seniors Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-James Jordan. In an era where players transfer more than ever, the two remained loyal to UT throughout their careers and stayed even longer than anticipated with an extra season of eligibility granted via the COVID pandemic.
“It’s hard to put into words, like the pain that I feel right now, but it’s even harder to put into words like the joy and the happiness I’ve gotten from being around this team, this university for the past five years,” James says. “These guys mean so much to me. I can’t really describe it, but I love them. I love them so much.”
Knecht shot 14 of 31 from the field, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range, in his final game in a UT uniform. No other Vol scored in double figures against Purdue. Knecht cooled off down the stretch and missed a few chances to tie the game or draw the Vols closer.
“I don’t think I put the team on my back. I think all of us carried each other. I think every single one of us did what we needed to do,” Knecht says. “At the end of the day, they were just the better team … I just love these guys, and I wish we could have one more game. I’m thankful for all these guys for accepting me for my one year here, as well as the coaching staff.”
Short stay, big impact
Although his time as a Vol was only one season, Knecht made an indelible impact on the program. He is the first UT player to score 35 points or more six times in a single season. Knecht previously played at Northern Colorado and Northeastern Junior College, and is the first former junior college player to earn All-America recognition since UNLV’s Larry Johnson in 1991.
“I would say it’s by far the closest I’ve ever had to be with a coach,” Knecht says of Barnes. “He’s coached me super hard ever since I told him on my visit that I wanted to be coached super hard, and he’s held up to his end. He’s been beyond just that. He’s been helping me off the court, on the court. He cracks jokes and stuff like that. Coach Barnes, I love him to death, and I can’t thank him enough for bringing me in for my one year here.”
The Vols will have to replace Knecht, Vescovi and James to revamp for another postseason run. They have players in the program who can develop into bigger roles, incoming freshmen to fill voids and the ability to strategically bolster the roster through the transfer portal like they did with Knecht this season.
Freshman J.P. Estrella showcased potential for the future against Purdue, playing significant minutes with UT’s big men battling foul trouble guarding Edey.
“I think that’s the one great takeaway from today for him. He got a chance to play more than he’s played,” Barnes says. “ … I don’t think he’s ever seen himself as that kind of player because you watch him warm up, he wants to stand out and shoot threes. But the fact is he went in there and battled against Player of the Year in college basketball. It’s a great experience.”
As he met with the media after the loss, Barnes says he wished more coaches had a chance to coach a “special group of guys” like the Vols. He lauded their fight even on a day when “maybe we weren’t at our very best.”
“I wish I could change the outcome for them,” Barnes says. “But the fact that God has blessed me with the time I’ve had with these guys, it’s something I wish every coach can enjoy.”