No. 8 Tennessee didn’t exactly look polished in the opening half, but the Vols found their rhythm after the break and rolled past Wofford 90-59 to start the season at home.
The night began quickly for Tennessee. Dai Dai Ames scored the first points of the season with a layup just seven seconds in, and Tyler Lundblade gave the Vols their first 3-pointer of the year with 16:20 left in the first half. Lundblade added another soon after, helping Tennessee build a 12-6 edge before the first timeout.
Wofford, though, refused to fade early. The Terriers matched Tennessee’s energy on the glass, took advantage of some careless fouls, and forced the Vols into a few turnovers. One of those fouls turned into a four-point play when Luke Flynn was fouled by Terrence Hill Jr.
Tennessee’s offense never really settled in during the first half. The Vols went through a 4:02 scoring drought, and the possessions weren’t helping matters - too many empty trips, too few second chances, and too many giveaways that led to Wofford points.
Lundblade finally snapped the skid with his third 3-pointer of the half, tying the game at 18 with 8:12 remaining. DeWayne Brown II then drew an and-one chance to push Tennessee back in front before the under-eight timeout.
Even with the lead, the Vols still had to deal with Wofford testing them on the perimeter. Chris Arias and Cam Lowe found open looks multiple times, and while the Terriers didn’t cash in on enough of them, the opportunities were there.
Hill helped Tennessee stay afloat offensively by attacking inside and earning free throws, scoring eight points over a three-and-a-half-minute stretch. Most of the Vols’ production came from Hill and Lundblade, and that was enough to send Tennessee into halftime up 34-31.
Wofford also held a 21-19 rebounding edge and turned seven Tennessee turnovers into nine points.
The second half looked like a different game. Tennessee moved the ball with far more purpose, and Miles Rubin made his presence felt right away with two dunks around a Lundblade 3-pointer in the opening minutes.
The Vols came out with urgency, stretched the margin to 12 before the under-16 timeout, and got a 3-pointer from Juke Harris in that run. Harris finished with seven points.
From there, Tennessee kept building. Rubin stayed active at both ends, Hill was sharp on the perimeter defensively, and that led to a steal and a fast-break score that put the Vols up 18 with 14:44 left. The rebounding improved, the energy level stayed high, and the whole team looked far more connected than it had in the first half.
Braedan Lue gave Tennessee useful minutes defensively and on the glass, and the depth showed up in a big way. Twelve Vols scored in the second half, Troy Henderson added seven of his 10 points after the break, and Brown closed strong with a double-double. He finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds, with 12 of those points coming in the second half.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Got A Huge Edge In A Massive Kentucky Showdown
Saturday night at Neyland Stadium already had the feel of a measuring-stick game, and now Tennessee enters it with a clean bill of health on the current roster. The 13th-ranked Volunteers will host No. 6 Kentucky at 6:15 p.m. ET in an SEC rivalry matchup that carries real weight for both teams, with each still eyeing the playoff picture and knowing a win would do plenty for the rsum.
For Tennessee, the absence of any new injury changes matters as much as the ranking gap. The Vols are still dealing with six season-ending injuries, but otherwise look ready for a game that could reshape the league conversation, while Kentucky got a small boost of its own with defensive back Isaiah McMillian moving to probable after previously being listed as questionable. In a matchup this big, the margins are thin, and availability could end up being part of the story before the first snap even arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces A Costly Problem At The Worst Time Against Kentucky
Penalty issues have been a recurring problem for Tennessee all season, and they come into this matchup with Kentucky needing a cleaner performance than the one that has too often followed them around. The Volunteers have been flagged 61 times and have given away too many yards in the process, a costly habit for a team trying to stay sharp in a rivalry game where every mistake can swing momentum.
Kentucky brings a different kind of challenge, one that shows up in the details. The Wildcats have been much better at avoiding self-inflicted damage and have built a strong turnover margin, while Josh Heupel has already pointed to the importance of Tennessee playing a disciplined game. Against an opponent that protects the football and limits mistakes, the margin for error is thin, and the Volunteers cannot afford another sloppy afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Kim Caldwell Sees One Clear Issue Despite Tennessees 2-0 Start
Tennessee opened the season 2-0 and handled Coppin State 98-60, but Kim Caldwell still found room for a sharp critique in the aftermath. In her postgame interviews on MEAC Network TV and Vol Network radio, the Lady Vols coach pointed to the teams defensive adjustments, the play of younger pieces, and the early contributions from Kennedy Fauntleroy and Gabby Minus as reasons for optimism, even with the lopsided win in hand.
The bigger concern, Caldwell said, was the kind of issue that can linger long after a comfortable result: ball sharing, defense and shot selection. With a young roster still settling in, Tennessee has already shown it can overwhelm an opponent, but the next step is making those stretches more complete and more consistent, especially once the competition tightens and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]