Tennessee basketball suffered its first loss of the season in shocking fashion on Tuesday night, falling 73-43 to Florida in Gainesville. The Vols, who entered the game with a perfect record, were thoroughly outplayed in what was their toughest test of the season. This SEC road matchup exposed some serious flaws as Tennessee struggled on both ends of the court.
From the outset, Florida dominated the paint, much like Tennessee has done to many of its opponents this season. The Gators controlled the boards, pulling down 19 offensive rebounds, which led to multiple second- and third-chance opportunities. This dominance inside created a significant gap, as Florida capitalized on their size and physicality. It was a role reversal for Tennessee, who had been the aggressor in most of their games up to this point.
Tennessee’s offense, which had been firing on all cylinders in their previous wins, completely faltered in this one. The Vols made just four shots in the first half, and only 12 shots for the game. Their shooting woes were particularly evident from beyond the arc, where they started 0-for-14 before finally sinking a three-pointer early in the second half. Freshman Chaz Lanier, who had been a breakout star, was off his game, struggling to make shots from anywhere on the floor.
Florida, who many believe has the potential to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, was the better team on this night, proving why they are a contender in the SEC. While this loss stings, Tennessee will get another crack at the Gators in a few weeks when they meet again at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Next up for the Vols is another tough SEC road test as they head to Texas to face the Longhorns on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. After this humbling defeat, Tennessee will need to regroup quickly to avoid another setback in a brutal conference slate.
