Chaz Lanier's 29 points in his NCAA Tournament debut was 'just Chaz being Chaz'
LEXINGTON — Jahmai Mashack gave Chaz Lanier the scouting report. Not about Wofford or the defense Tennessee would face in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday night.
Mashack’s message was about March Madness — the intensity and nerves and everything else that comes with the one-and-done college basketball postseason.
“It’s nothing different,” Mashack said, recalling the conversation. “It’s just basketball. Whether you’re playing at the park or you’re playing at your local rec center or you’re playing in the national championship game, it’s basketball all the same. So go out and do what you practice.”
Lanier made his NCAA Tournament debut look like a shootaround in No. 2 Tennessee’s 77-62 win over No. 15 Wofford. He scored 29 points, third most by a Tennessee player in an NCAA Tournament game, and tied another tournament program record with six made 3-pointers.
Lanier scored 14 points on 3-for-8 shooting from three in the first half. He had 15 points on 3-for-5 shooting from three in the second half.
“It’s just Chaz being Chaz,” Mashack said. “He does it in practice, so I expect him to do it in a game.”
Up Next: No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 7 UCLA, Saturday, 9:40 p.m. ET, TBS/TruTV
Not only had Lanier never played in the NCAA Tournament, he never came close. North Florida went 0-4 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament during Lanier’s four seasons at the school, with the Ospreys never winning more than 16 games in a season.
Still, Lanier was unbothered entering the first round at Rupp Arena.
“I didn’t really have any nerves,” Lanier said. “I feel like I played in the best conference in America (this season), so there was no nerves going out. This is my first time, I kind of didn’t all the way know what to expect being in March Madness because I’ve never been here before, but it was definitely no nerves.”
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Lanier scored 23 points his Tennessee postseason debut last Friday, in the 83-72 win over Texas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. He had 12 more on Saturday against Auburn and 11 against Florida in the championship game on Sunday.
His teammates expected no different a few days later in the NCAA Tournament.
“His tournament debut in Nashville was spectacular as well,” senior guard Jordan Gainey said. “We all know Chaz is built for the moment, built for whatever is coming his way and we knew what he was going to do.”
Chaz Lanier cut off Wofford’s comeback attempt in second half
In the biggest moments against Wofford, Lanier was a one-man run stopper. When Wofford tried to rally, Lanier shot back.
When Wofford got within nine points on a 3-pointer with 17:15 left, Lanier answered with a three 13 seconds later. When the Terriers made another three to get within eight at the 13:33 mark, Lanier answered with a three 17 seconds later.
When Wofford hit again with 12:45 to go, Lanier answered with two tough midrange jumpers 12 seconds apart, getting the lead back to 13.
Chaz was being Chaz, announcing his presence in his NCAA Tournament debut.
“I feel like those are kind of the best threes,” Lanier said. “Just a response like, we’re here, we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to press it back down and get the shot that we want as well. I just feel like it lets them know that we’re here.”
