DETROIT – This one ought to have been in Arizona, however that’s the way it goes typically — a staff the standard of a No. 1 seed falters a bit late and falls to a No. 2, and that staff finds its path to a Last 4 rather more troublesome consequently.
The Tennessee Volunteers can rue that together with many missed alternatives in Sunday’s Elite Eight traditional and a 72-66 loss to Midwest Area No. 1 seed Purdue at Little Caesar’s Area. The Purdue Boilermakers can have fun historical past.
The No. 2 seed Vols had management at occasions and fought again with unrelenting persistence within the second half, however couldn’t overcome Matt Painter’s Boilermakers, led by dominating 7-foot-4 senior heart Zach Edey. Edey had 40 factors, 16 rebounds and large protection down the stretch to place Purdue (33-4) into the Last 4 in Glendale, Ariz., in opposition to the winner of Duke and N.C. State. It’s Painter’s first Last 4 and this system’s first since 1980.
Tennessee (27-9) continues to hunt the primary Last 4 in program historical past, and coach Rick Barnes’ first since his lone journey, in 2003, with Texas. This was a staff adequate to do it. However a No. 1 seed out West — the potential final result for this staff had it not dropped consecutive video games to Kentucky and Mississippi State earlier than the match — would have been the extra advantageous start line.
Tennessee had a star this season, too, senior wing Dalton Knecht, and he went off for 37 factors. He additionally went chilly from exterior late, lacking some high quality seems that had an opportunity to tilt the sport within the Vols’ favor. After all, asking for greater than 14 baskets, six of them 3-pointers, from one participant is a bit extreme. UT had nobody else in double figures.
The most important shot of the sport was made by Purdue guard Lance Jones, a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 66-60 Boilermakers with 2:42 to play.
These groups took “sport of runs” to excessive lengths within the first half. The Vols acquired the primary little bit of separation, 17-12, on a Knecht 3-pointer. The Boilermakers promptly elevated their effort to remain caught to him and located a stretch of lockdown protection consequently. The Vols didn’t rating for a stretch of 5 minutes and 35 seconds — lastly ended when Josiah James drilled a nook triple. Purdue didn’t take as a lot benefit because it might have, although, solely scoring seven factors through the drought.
The James shot acquired the Vols rolling downhill. A 15-2 run, punctuated by two Knecht 3-pointers after UT offensive rebounds, made it 32-21 Tennessee with 5:11 left within the half, prompting a Painter timeout.
The timeout labored. The Boilers took their flip to ship a flurry, 13 straight factors to regain the lead. An 80/20 Purdue crowd, nervously quiet for just a few moments, was again to a gentle roar. Purdue held Tennessee with no level for an additional 4 minutes and 30 seconds, and it was 36-34 Boilermakers on the half.
So in 10:05 of first-half motion, Tennessee couldn’t handle some extent. Within the different 9:55, the Vols scored 34. All in all, although, they weren’t in horrible form on the break — facilities Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka each had two fouls, however acquired them late within the half.
Jahmai Mashack, who began instead of Santiago Vescovi — although Vescovi (flu) performed after lacking Friday’s win over Creighton — had two as effectively, however nobody else was in foul hassle. The sport was referred to as to offer Tennessee a greater probability than in a 71-67 loss to Purdue within the Maui Invitational in November, by which each Aidoo and Awaka fouled out and the Vols picked up 30 as a staff.
However the whistles had been a bit extra delicate to contact coming proper out of the second half. Aidoo acquired a 3rd foul making an attempt to disclaim Edey place. Awaka got here in and promptly acquired his third, the identical form of foul. Mashack made it a trifecta of third fouls referred to as earlier than the primary TV timeout of the second half, and that Hawaii sport all of the sudden got here to thoughts.
Then Awaka acquired his fourth with 14:03 left, making an attempt to disclaim Edey an offensive rebound, and freshman JP Estrella was wanted for an prolonged stint. The Vols had few solutions on protection with the fouls piling up — Purdue within the bonus with 13:54 left within the sport.
After which it was 54-46 Purdue, and issues regarded grim for the Vols. So naturally they held Purdue scoreless for a stretch of two:18 and went on a livid 10-2 run to tie it up and ship this sport the place it was at all times destined to go — proper to the ultimate stretch. That’s when Purdue emerged and made extra high-pressure performs than Tennessee.
Edey swatting Knecht on the rim with the Vols down 5 within the waning seconds joined Jones’ 3-pointer because the performs that will probably be remembered for getting this program to the Last 4.
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(Picture: Mike Mulholland / Getty Photographs)