The Official #1 Tennessee @ Vanderbilt Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN2

[RavinDave]

23/23

He is money at the FT line.

 

[Chilmonty]

Grant 43pts 10/15 shooting 23/23 FT!!! SICK!!!

 

[volfanhill]

We won... yay. Still embarrassing and disappointing. Oh well. We found a way to win again.

Embarrassing?

 

[tnvols72]

So did @YankeeVol, so did @JohnD13, and about 10 other people.

I said it and I bet 90% said but wont admit it. Grant pulled it out

 

[UCVols]

Make no mistake, that was a huge win. Being #1 team in the country has its consequences, taking everyone's best shot...

 

[volmoon]

I hate watching us play bad. It’s bearable when we win. That said, these tough wins will pay off in March.

 

[zjcvols]

@bleedingTNorange you doin the postgame tonight?

 

[Ace]

This TEAM has never been here before. They are learning to win. They have gone from hunting to being the hunted. There is a learning curve. Good win. Go Big Orange!!

 

[Chilmonty]

Well we now have a BIG Target on our backs, can we stand it is the question!?!?!?!

 

[golfballs]

Schofield needs to get benched. You can’t bench Turner and Bowden and not Schofield. He needs a wake up call.

 

[W.TN.Orange Blood]

Grant was a man. Holy moly

He was more than that....with super human strength tonight for sure I'd say.

 

[G0V0LS33]

Thank you GRANT WILLIAMS

 

[87&91ALUM]

I am a happy Vol!

 

[StarRaider]

in before the negas tell us we barely beat an 0-6 team.

 

[screenthis]

It was an intent foul, but why are they talking about Bone throwing an elbow. The announcers were trying to say Bone threw an elbow.

Yes, that was ridiculous on the announcers fault. He was falling backwards. Good thing the Refs saw it the right thing. On to the next one.

 

[Big Orange Rock]

Well they had every chance to let history repeat itself and Vandy shot lights out. Easily the worst I have seen them play .......... And we still won. So much DOG in Williams.

 

[spyfish007]

Allow me to an oracle of the obvious: Grant has been carrying us a few games now and we have slim chances in the touney if that continues. Other guys have to step up with scoring. We can't expect this guy to continue to put the team on his shoulders. He takes a beating every game. The other guys need to produce more points.

Our shooters have gone a little cold. They just have to pick it up to get away from the close games. I think this is the downside of a deep team. Not as much for rhythm for shooters.

 

[vavolfan6]

Vandy had a good game plan for us and I have to give them credit. Yes, they had stretches where everything seemed to drop, but their offensive game plan was masterful. They continued to switch our defense around, force one of our players to leave their man and help, only to dish it to someone else. It took a career performance by Grant to overcome it and you can't do anything about a guy hitting 23/23 free throws.

No one should be ashamed about this win. You play teams who have their night and come out executing their game plan. Yet it seems, even when teams have their day, we are there ready to respond. Not only that, but this game had additional pressure: playing an instate rival away, being recently announced the #1 team, and having to play the same team that cost us the #1 spot last time around...THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT!

 

[casetopia]

gut check and the Vols (esp. Grant) responded like we knew they would.
These are grown men and if you want to beat them you better pack a lunch
cause it's gonna be an all day job.

 

[volfanhill]

if we take care of WV we will hang on to it I think

You don’t tylically lose the number one rank as long as you win.

 

[TooLegit2Quit]

Hell of a win. Let's hope that's just what the doctor ordered and this team gets back into the groove of consistent ball movement, defensive rebounding, and Schofield wakes up. Grant Williams had one of the best performances of his career.

Previous squads would've lost this game. This team is special.

 

[orchidvol]

Another game where the other team shoots lights out and doesn't seem to miss anything for multiple stretches..and we just stay composed and keep fighting!! What a mental performance to never give up and keep pushing!

I'm SO proud of the team. I hope they can change up whatever is allowing mediocre teams to go on "lights out" shooting stretches against them though.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I said it and I bet 90% said but wont admit it. Grant pulled it out

Pretty much. But it's a running joke with me so I don't count.

 

[vol41212]

What guard threw that 1/2 court pass to Alexander with 3 min left in OT? We were up 3 and Vandy instantly sunk a 3 to tie it after the turnover.

I am amazed Barnes didn't stroke out after that stupidity

 

[sportsnut624]

Probably Allen Houston in 1990 would be my guess. Absurd performance by Williams today.