Despite a solid 6-2 stretch, Tennessee is still trying to shake off the sting of two games that slipped through its fingers. The Volunteers, now 17-7 overall and 7-4 in SEC play, have shown flashes of dominance-but late-game lapses have cost them in big moments.
Twice in recent weeks, Tennessee built double-digit leads against rival Kentucky, only to watch them unravel. Those losses don’t just hurt in the standings-they sting because they were right there for the taking.
Now, with a two-game home stand on deck, starting Saturday against LSU in Knoxville, the Vols have a chance to reset. These are games they’re expected to control, but as recent history has shown, no lead is safe unless the focus stays sharp.
Tennessee is currently part of a five-team logjam tied for fourth in the SEC alongside Vanderbilt, Alabama, Missouri, and Texas A&M. All five are chasing Florida, who holds a two-game edge atop the standings. That means every game down the stretch matters-and every missed opportunity looms even larger.
The Vols’ most recent outing, a 73-64 win at Mississippi State, was a microcosm of their season. Tennessee built a 23-point cushion with under 11 minutes to play, only to see it nearly vanish during a stunning 18-0 Bulldogs run. They held on, but the close call was another reminder of how quickly things can spiral.
After the game, head coach Rick Barnes didn’t sugarcoat it.
“One thing when I talked to them, I said, ‘How do we let that happen?’” Barnes said.
“And again, this team, they’re like, ‘We had an 18-0 run against us?’ They were shocked.
“It goes back to concentration and not getting relaxed. That kind of has been the story of our team. We get a lead and we start doing those things.”
Consistency has been elusive, especially on offense. Ja’Kobi Gillespie (18.5 points per game) and Nate Ament (17.5) are the only two Vols averaging double figures. That puts a lot of pressure on those two to carry the scoring load, especially when the offense stalls late in games.
On the other side, LSU comes in looking for a spark. The Tigers have dropped five of their last six and sit at 14-10 overall, just 2-9 in the SEC. Four of those recent losses came by double digits, and the team has struggled to find rhythm on either end of the floor.
But there have been bright spots. Two weeks ago, LSU pulled off a 92-87 overtime win at South Carolina-a game that showcased what this team can be when things click.
Mike Nwoko led the way with 21 points, and Rashad King had a breakout performance with season highs in points (18) and rebounds (7). Perhaps most encouraging: the Tigers dished out a season-high 23 assists on 31 made baskets.
“That’s the pathway for us moving forward,” said LSU head coach Matt McMahon. “Less dribbling. More ball movement, more off-ball screens give us our best opportunity to be efficient on offense right now.”
Efficiency, though, has been hard to come by without their leading scorer. Dedan Thomas Jr., who averages 15.3 points per game, hasn’t played since injuring his foot back on Jan. 28 against Mississippi State. His absence has left a big hole in the backcourt.
McMahon made it clear that Thomas is doing everything he can to return.
“I know in today’s age of college athletics, you hear a lot of opt-outs and things like that,” McMahon said. “He is doing everything in his power [to play].”
In the meantime, LSU has leaned on Max Mackinnon (14.5 ppg) and Marquel Sutton (13.4 ppg) to pick up the slack. But without Thomas orchestrating the offense, the Tigers have struggled to find consistency, especially against top-tier SEC defenses.
For Tennessee, this two-game stretch at home is more than just a chance to pad the win column-it’s an opportunity to tighten the screws before the final push toward March. The Vols have the talent. Now it’s about closing the door when they have the lead.
And if they can do that, they’ll be right in the thick of the SEC title race.