5 Takeaways: No. 1 Tennessee 83, West Virginia 66

Photo by Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee overcame an early deficit to defeat West Virginia, 83-66 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The Vols came out flat, but managed to storm back to close out the first half, never looking back. After nearly getting upset in their first game as the No. 1 team since 2008, fans expected the Vols to be focused on the task at hand. Unfortunately, they got off to a rough start. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 19-7 lead after 9:00 of play. This was Tennessee's largest deficit of the season and the fans in Thompson-Boling Arena were more than restless.

Tennessee responded by having one of the most dominating 11-minute stretches of basketball I have ever witnessed. They ended the half on a 24-2 run, as West Virginia missed 14 of their final 15 field goals in the first half. The Mountaineers, after 20 minutes of play, had 10 turnovers and just 8 made field goals.

The second half was more of the same. Lamonté Turner helped Tennessee pick up where they left off, scoring the first 4 points of the second half. The Vols maintained a consistent lead throughout the remainder of the game, eventually winning by 17 points. Once their shots started to fall, West Virginia was helpless.

Grant Williams logged 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block. Jordan Bowden scored 15 points on 6-12 shooting, while Jordan Bone recorded 9 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. The Vols shot 48% from the floor, making 6-16 shots from 3-point range. They dished out 19 assists on 29 made baskets.

Here are 5 Takeaways from the convincing victory that improved the Vols 18-1 on the season.

Lamonté Had a Terrific Day

Lamonté Turner made a surprise visit to the starting lineup on Saturday. It was just the seventh start of his career and he scored a season-high 23 points on the afternoon. He has battled a shoulder injury this season, but since his return in the SEC opener, he has excelled.

His shot is back and he is allowing the Vols to play to their potential. Without his shooting, the Vols are a very different team. Along with 23 points on 8-10 shooting (3-5 from 3-point range), he recorded 5 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal.

Slow Start, Strong Finish

Tennessee got off to an extremely poor start, scoring just 7 points in the game’s first 9 minutes of action. Their dominate 24-2 run gave them a 10-point lead at halftime. More importantly, it set the tone for how the second half would be played. The Mountaineers punched the Vols in the mouth, right out of the gates, so Tennessee took exception to that and dominated for the final 31 minutes of the game. After the run, there was no doubt who was going to win.

Opponents Struggle From the Charity Stripe

Over the past 4 games, the Vols’ opponents have not shot well from the free throw line. Arkansas went 13-22, Alabama was 8-18, Vanderbilt shot 13-21 and the Mountaineers made just 10-18. This has been interesting to watch, as the highest percentage of these 4 teams has been 62%. The streak will have to end at some point, but it shouldn’t affect the Vols when it does.

Officially a Slump

Admiral’s slump is one of the stranger slumps in recent memory. Although he has posted a double-double in 2 of his past 3 outings, it is officially time to label this as a shooting slump for Schofield. He has shot 11-42 from the field in the past 3 games, which is just 26%.

Admiral was 5-16 for 14 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday, but he is not making the shots he typically makes. The slump hasn’t affected his rebounding game, which is a positive sign. Tennessee will need the shooting of Schofield as the season deepens, but for now, he is still producing in other areas.

Defense is Locked In

Tennessee’s defense was suffocating during the Orange Out in Thompson-Boling Arena. West Virginia had no answers and the Vols, especially late in the first half and during the second half, could do whatever they desired to the Mountaineer offense. The Vols forced a season-high 24 turnovers, recording 10 steals and 5 blocked shots on the afternoon. West Virginia shot 44% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc, but Tennessee’s ability to turn defense into offense was key.

Player of the Game: Lamonté Turner