Where Dalton Knecht stands in Tennessee basketball's all-time scoring records

It was only fitting that Dalton Knecht’s Tennessee career ended with another record-setting game. The 37 points he scored in the 72-66 loss to Purdue on Sunday in the Elite Eight set a new scoring record for a Tennessee player in an NCAA Tournament game.

His 14 field goals made in the Midwest Regional final tied his season high, as did the six 3-point field goals he made during his 37 minutes. His 103 points over four NCAA Tournament games set a new Tennessee record, too, and his 37 against Purdue was also the sixth-highest by an SEC player in the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s a look at where Knecht stands in Tennessee basketball’s record book after his legendary one-year run with the Vols:

Scoring (Game): 40 — Tied for 14th

Knecht, who scored 40 on Senior Day against Kentucky on March 9, is tied with Bernard King (vs. Vermont, 12/30/1974) and Dyron Nix (vs. Tennessee Tech, 11/25/1988) in single-game scoring.

Tony White’s 51 points scored against Auburn in February 1987 is the program record. Ron Widby scored 50 against LSU in March 1967, White had 49 against Florida State in 1986 and Carl Widseth scored 47 at Auburn in 1956. Grant Williams at Vanderbilt in 2019 became one of five Tennessee players to score 43 points in a game. King scored 42 against Georgia in 1975 and Milwaukee in 1974, in his Tennessee debut. King scored 41 against Georgia in 1977 and Lum Reeder scored 41 against Maryville in 1914.

Scoring (Season): 780 — 2nd

Knecht finished with 780 points in 36 games, averaging 21.7 points per game. Only Allan Houston scored more in a single season, with 806 points in 34 games in 1990-91. 

Only four players have scored 700 or more points in a season. Houston scored 717 points in 34 games in 1991-92 and Tony White scored 711 in 29 games in 1986-87. Grant Williams is seventh on the list with 696 points in 37 games in 2018-19, just two points shy of Reggie Johnson’s 698 in 33 games in 1978-79.

Scoring Average (Season): 21.7 — 16th

Bernard King holds the record for the highest single-season scoring average with 26.4 points per game over 25 games in 1974-75, when he scored 661 points. King is also second on the list, with 25.8 points per game in 1976-77, and fourth with 25.2 points per game with 629 points in 25 games in 1975-76. Erine Grunfeld is third with 25.3 points per game in 1975-76. Knecht’s 21.7 points per game was Tennessee’s highest single-season scoring average since Kevin Punter averaged 22.2 over 26 games in 2015-16.

Scoring Average (Career): 21.7 — 4th

Knecht’s 21.7 points per game is the fourth-best average for a Tennessee play in their career. King averaged 25.8 over 76 games (1974-77) and Grunfeld averaged 22.3 over 101 games (1973-77). Houston averaged 21.0 points per game over 128 games (1989-93). Carl Widseth averaged 19.1 points per game over 88 games (1952-56).

Most Points Scored (Class): 780 — 1st

Dale Ellis holds the record for points scored by a senior, with 724 points in 32 games in 1982-83. Tennessee’s record book does not have a leader listed for fifth-year seniors, like Knecht, but Knecht would hold the record at 780. Houston’s single-season scoring record of 806 points came during his sophomore season. Houston holds the record for a junior with 717 points. Bernard King set the freshman mark with 661 in 1974-75.

Scoring Average (One-Year Career): 21.7 — 1st

Tobias Harris held the previous mark for scoring average in a one-year career, averaging 15.3 points per game in 34 games in 2010-11. Danny Schultz is the leader for a two-year career, with 17.2 in 45 games (1962-64). King holds the record for a three-year career, with 25.8 in 76 games (1974-75) and Grunfeld holds the four-year record with 22.3 points in 101 games (1973-77).

Most Career 30-Point Games: 8 — Tied for 8th

Knecht’s eight games with 30 or more points tied him with eighth in program history with Dyron Nix, who did so eight times in 113 games (1985-89). Dale Ellis and Chris Lofton did so nine times, Grunfeld had 12 and White had 16. Houston did so 23 times and King holds the record with 26 during his 76-game career.

Most Career 40-Point Games: 1 — Tied for 3rd

Knecht joined eight other Tennessee players who have scored 40 points or more in a game (Grunfeld, Houston, R. Johnson, Nix, Reeder, Widby, Widseth and Williams). White scored 40 or more twice and King did so five times. 

Field Goals Made (One-Year Career): 264 — 1st

Tobias Harris held the previous record for field goals made in a one-year career with 185 in 34 games in 2010-11. Knecht went 264-for-577 in 36 games this season. Dale Ellis holds the record for a senior with 279 made in 32 games in 1982-83. Knecht also se the record for field goals attempted in a one-year career, with his 577 breaking the previous mark of 402 held by Harris. 

3-Point Field Goals Made (Season): 93 — Tied for 6th

Knecht’s 93 3-pointers made is tied for with JaJuan Smith (2007-08) and Lofton (2004-05) for a single season. Lofton holds the top three marks with 118 in 36 games in 2007-08, 114 in 30 games in 2005-06 and 106 in 31 games in 2006-07. Santiago Vescovi became only the second Tennessee player with 100 or more when he hit 102 in 35 games in 2021-22. Houston made 99 in 34 games in 1990-91. Knecht single-game high for 3-pointers made was six in three game (Purdue, Kentucky and Texas A&M). Eight Tennessee players have made seven threes in a game. Jordan McRae, Lofton and Houston made eight in a game and Lofton holds the record with nine at Georgia in 2006.

Career 3-Point Field Goals Per Game (Min. 50 Made): 2.58 — 3rd

Knecht’s 2.58 3-pointers made per game is third on Tennessee’s all-time list, behind Lofton, with 3.37 over 128 games, and Houston, with 2.7 over 346 games. Vescovi entered this season third with 2.47 over 114 games. 

Most 3-Point Field Goals Made (One-Year Career): 93 — 1st

Antonio Barton held the previous record for 3-pointers made in a one-year career, with 51 in 37 games in 2013-14. Lofton made 431 over four seasons, Scotty Hopson made 151 in three seasons and Scooter McFadgon made 110 in two seasons.

3-Point Field Goal Average (One-Year Career): 39.7% — 1st

Kennedy Chandler held the previous record for 3-point field goal percentage for a Tennessee player in a one-year career, making 38.3% (49-128) in 2021-22. Knecht averaged 39.7% this season, going 93-for-234. 

NCAA Tournament Points (Game): 37 — 1st

Knecht’s 37 points against Purdue broke Ernie Grunfeld’s record of 36 set against VMI in 1976. Bill Justus holds the NIT record with 34 against Ohio in 1969 and Dale Ellis holds the SEC Tournament record with 33 against LSU in 1983. 

NCAA Tournament Total Points: 103 — 1st

Before scoring 37 points against Purdue, Knecht had 26 in the Sweet 16 win over Creighton, 18 in the second round against Texas and 23 in the first round against Saint Peter’s. Knecht’s 103 total points broke the previous mark for total scoring in one NCAA Tournament run, set by Lofton’s 69 points in 2007. Lofton scored 25 against Long Beach State, 20 against Virginia and 24 against Ohio State.