Tennessee might be sweating a little before NCAA tournament selections are announced Sunday, but the consensus is that the Volunteers should get in.
They entered Saturday’s game against with a shaky RPI of 40 and lost to No. 1-ranked Florida 56-49 in the SEC tournament semifinals. But Tennessee’s schedule strength currently rates among the top 25 (it once was top 10), it has 21 victories and owns a 35-point win over now-No. 6 Virginia.
But Florida coach Billy Donovan didn’t need to see that game to know the Vols belong. They pass the eye test for him.
“I certainly believe they’re an NCAA tournament team,” Donovan stated emphatically. “I think (Tennesssee coach) Cuonzo (Martin) has done a great job of establishing his culture and how he wants his teams to play. … From what I’ve been able to see, I think they’ll be a very difficult team in the NCAA tournament.”
The Vols certainly gave the Gators all they could handle. They led Florida twice by 10 points before letting the game slip away in the final minutes.
But getting caught up in what happened Saturday misses the point, Tennessee believes. It won four games in a row by an average of 27 points before that.
“I feel like the statement was already made before coming into this game,” All-SEC forward Jarnell Stokes said. “We just didn’t make the plays down the stretch like we usually do.”
Donovan agrees. “They have everything to go far, in my opinion. Perimeter shooting, even when they come off the bench. … Low-post scoring. They will be a very difficult team in the tournament.”
It’s doubtful any other SEC team will be able to make much of an argument. Missouri (47) had the next highest RPI among conference teams and was swept by Georgia (68). Arkansas (69) was one-and-done Thursday.
Gaines recovers: Georgia sophomore Kenny Gaines was scoreless at the half and missed his first six shots Saturday against Kentucky. But he rallied to make six of his last eight to finish with a team-high 13 points. It was his ninth consecutive game in double figures.
“I got some pretty good looks (early); they just weren’t falling,” said Gaines, who entered the day leading the SEC in 3-point shooting in conference games (45 percent). “I’ve just got to get back in the gym and get my confidence back up.”
Florida's flaw: The Gators have played almost flawlessly as a team against SEC competition this season — they improved to 20-0 against conference teams with Saturday's win over Tennessee — but they do have one flaw. The Gators don't shoot free throws well.
They entered the SEC tournament ranked 11th in the conference from the free-throw line, at 67 percent, and it went down from there. Florida missed seven of its 10 tries against Tennessee (58 percent). The Gators finished strong after starting 1-of-7.
“No team’s perfect, and we’re certainly not perfect,” Donovan said. “There are always areas we can get better on. Free-throw shooting is something we can improve. We spend time, and those guys put time in on their own.”
