The tables turned on Tennessee in Gainesville

Ellie Williamson

January, 7 2025

Tennessee was aggressively defeated by a #8 Florida team that was coming off a loss to Kentucky at home. They didn’t want to lose at home again and it showed. 

From tip off to the final buzzer, Florida physically showed their strengths against the best defensive team in the SEC. Coach Rick Barnes said post game, “we lost our poise”. Shots were open to start the matchup. However, nothing was following through. At the half, the Gators doubled what the Vols were able to have in FG percentage. Florida was shooting at 49% and Tennessee was at a mere 14%. 

“Give Florida credit. They did well. They did on the boards what we like to do to people, which I feel like was the difference in the game.” - Rick Barnes 

Across the league on Tuesday, there were several games that exposed just how strong this conference play can be in mid week form. #2 ranked Auburn(14-1) narrowly escaped Texas with a 1 loss record. Unranked Georgia (13-2) upset #6 Kentucky. Tennessee may be dethroned from the top rankings after this week, but it’s a tribute to the “no gimmes” that come with this part of the season. 

From 0-14 in the first half at the arch to the leading scorers Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler barely breaking double digits with 10 a piece. Tennessee lacking the ability  to score was a weakness that Florida exploited further in the second half. In the end,the Gators were able to hold  Tennessee to their lowest point total (43) and field-goal percentage (21.4; 12-of-56)

of Rick Barnes'10-years in Knoxville.  

According to https://www.statsperform.com/ Tennessee is the only Division I team this century to shoot 30% or worse on 2-pointers, 15% or worse on 3-pointers and 60% or worse on free throws in a single game (min. 25 attempts in each category). 

Florida just came off a night where they scored in the triple digits against a ranked SEC team. The Volunteers were highlighted by limiting Florida to a 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the floor, including a 30.0 percent (6-of-24)  from deep, but the shooting mishaps were too much to overcome on the road. 

It does not  get any easier for Barnes and his team as they come home to Knoxville in order to prepare for a return to his former home of Austin,Texas.. Saturday, Tennessee and Texas will face off in a SEC Saturday game that has been a long time coming. Texas (11-4) has yet to be ranked. Tennessee is the only SEC school that has been listed as a ranked team for 69 consecutive weeks. How will this team respond to the lack luster showing in Gainesville? Stay tuned to our coverage at The Players Lounge - Tennessee for more.