Rick Barnes discusses comfort that Dalton Knecht brings with scoring ability

Dalton Knecht has become a scoring luxury for Tennessee based on how he has played this season, especially in the SEC. Rick Barnes knows it too based on how his impact of offense takes a load off of the Volunteers.

Barnes spoke about the Knecht effect during his postgame press conference after the fifth-year went off again at Vanderbilt on Saturday. He said it provides some sense of comfort knowing that his team has a player that can take full control of a game with his scoring.

“Oh yeah,” said Barnes. “I mean I’m not going to say it. I mean yeah.”

That’s even more of the case considering Knecht’s aggressiveness in getting his shot up. He’s going to hoist up his attempts throughout a game and make more than enough of them. That then allows the rest of his team to focus on what they need to do as well.

“You guys have watched Dalton. He’s not afraid to go with it,” said Barnes. “Certainly, we’ve got some guys who aren’t afraid to shoot the ball.”

Knecht exploded in Nashville for 32 points in a 75-62 win at Vanderbilt. It was his third 30-point outing in league play so far and fourth total of the season. He took 21 shots against the Commodores, his second most of the campaign, and made 13 for a field-goal percentage that was also his second best at 61.9%. He also knocked down three of seven attempts from three at a clip of 42.9%.

Knecht is now averaging 19.5 points in his first season on Rocky Top with career-best percentages of 49% from the field on almost 14 shots per game while knocking down 40.2% of his looks from from deep. Those statistics take a leap up from what he has done over six games in the Southeastern Conference with averages of 28 points on 54% from the field on 18 attempts a game and 44.4% from distance.

His production has given the Volunteers an extra gear on offense. It has also helped them to start at 5-1 in the SEC so far.

Knecht’s teammates know to get him the ball throughout the game, especially when he’s hot. That has become a weapon for all their opponents to have to worry about, especially considering, according to Barnes, Knecht is just now scratching the surface of what he can be on the offensive end.

“The fact is Dalton’s teammates? They have confidence in him. We all do. But we still, honestly, think he can get better,” said Barnes. “The more we play? The better he’s going to get.”