Four Point Play: Texas can't crack Tennessee in 82-71 loss

The marquee matchup of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge was in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday when the No. 10 Texas Longhorns traveled into the Thompson-Boling Arena to face No. 4 Tennessee. Longhorns’ interim head coach Rodney Terry had an opportunity to put one over on his old boss, but Rick Barnes’ team offered a signature performance with strong defense and physical offense in an 82-71 Volunteer win.

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Texas had a lengthy scoring drought in the first half that it could not overcome. It also didn’t get the typical scoring output from Marcus Carr, who had 11 points, all in the second half, on 4-of-12 shooting after a foul-ridden performance. Sir’Jabari Rice led Texas with 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while Brock Cunningham added double-figures with 11 points.

Here are four thoughts on the contest.

Tennessee’s historic defense makes Texas suffer

Barnes’ team doesn’t just have one of the best defenses in the country this year, it could have one of the best defenses this century. According to KenPom, there has never been a team that has recorded a season with an adjusted defensive efficiency of under 84. Adjusted defensive efficiency is points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent.

Entering this game, Tennessee led the nation in the metric at 82.9.

For comparison, 2021 national champion Baylor’s mark was 91.1, and 2022 Kansas’ was 91.7.

Where that defensive prowess was felt most was at the midway point of the first half. Arterio Morris hit a three with 10:44 left to make it 17 all. From that point, Texas didn’t score for another 6:14.

Foul trouble for Carr saw him hit the bench earlier than Rodney Terry would have preferred, and left Texas without its top scoring option in that stretch. The physicality of the Volunteer defense was felt during that span, and defense turned into offense for the Vols, who opened up a nine-point lead.

That eventually became 10 points, then 12 points, then 14 points. Zakai Zeigler and Olivier Nkamhoua, who paced the Tennessee offense all night, scored 12 straight points in the last 4:12 to create the 12-point halftime advantage for the brighter orange-clad squad.

Tennessee wasn’t an immovable object on the defensive end, as the Longhorns had several good looks in the half-court. Texas simply was not able to convert. It’s a make-or-miss game, and too many first-half misses put the Longhorns in a hole they could not climb out of in the second half. Other opportunities were stifled by Barnes’ squad.

Texas actually outscored Tennessee 43-42 in the second half, but the 12-point deficit at halftime proved to be too much. Credit the Volunteer defense, which is a unit that could help Rick Barnes to the Final Four, but also note how Texas was unable to convert opportunities on the road.

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Out-rebounded

Size was going to be a problem for the Longhorns against any team that could throw near-7-foot tall bodies at them this year. Tennessee had two such players, plus the 6-foot-8 Nkamhoua, to help them in that area.

It created a physical disadvantage Texas had trouble dealing with. Led by eight boards apiece from Nkamhoua and Santiago Vescovi, the Volunteers outrebounded Texas 38-23. It was a 21-13 advantage in the first half for the Vols. Tennessee had 27 defensive rebounds to Texas’ 15, and 11 offensive boards to the Longhorns’ 8.

Those numbers resulted in 15 second chance points for Tennessee compared to Texas’ 8. The physical advantage was also reflected in 40 Tennessee points in the paint compared to 28 for Texas.

Small lineup?

Against Oklahoma State, Texas used a lineup that consisted of Timmy Allen, Marcus Carr, Sir’Jabari Rice, Tyrese Hunter, and Brock Cunningham. There were moments when Dylan Disu replaced Allen, but that core was tremendously effective versus the Cowboys.

The small lineup had its moments versus Tennessee. That group helped bring some of the Volunteer bigs away from the basket or off the floor, and brought as many shot-makers on the Longhorn roster onto the floor.

That lineup was a key part of Texas’ 15-for-31 shooting effort in the second half, and the 5-for-14 performance from three after a 2-for-10 first half.

Texas has solid bigs like Disu and Christian Bishop, but them not being on the floor helped to stretch the defense and create driving lanes for the ball-handlers. It may be something Texas wants to look into utilizing much more often as it has been effective, even against top-level teams.

The importance of the game

The loss for Tennessee counts as a loss in the record and on the resume. It’ll remain a Quadrant 1 loss for the rest of the year barring a collapse of monumental proportions by Tennessee.

It doesn’t have an effect on Texas’ Big 12 standing. However, Monday’s contest versus Baylor does.

The Bears topped Arkansas in a close one on Saturday, and have been a thorn in Texas’ side of late. Texas has lost 12-of-13 to Baylor, and saw Scott Drew’s team win the 2021 national championship.

It’ll be a tough turnaround for Texas after the trip to Knoxville, but it’s one Texas will find of greater importance after a one-game reprieve from Big 12 play.