Tennessee Basketball: The Vols Wasted a Chance to Upset Mississippi State

In game two of the most difficult stretch of the season, Tennessee continued its dominant defensive play against arguably the best front line in the SEC. However, the Vols failed to capitalize on their defensive success, losing to No. 20 Mississippi State 62-58 Thursday night.

Even with Jeronne Maymon in foul trouble for most of the game, Tennessee’s post defenders held Mississippi State’s double-double machine Arnett Moultrie to just four rebounds, his lowest of the season and seven below his year average. The Vols also held the Bulldogs’ freshman star Rodney Hood to seven points and four rebounds, and scoring threat Dee Bost shot just 3-of-11 from the field.

With head coach Cuonzo Martin’s strong defense in full swing, Tennessee was in prime position to pull off its second straight win over a ranked opponent and completely turn the season around. The Vols, however, failed to convert on the easiest scoring opportunities.

Tennessee squandered an enormous number of scoring chances that would have made Trae Golden’s gaffe in the closing seconds irrelevant. Numerous fast breaks that ended in turnovers and missed shots in the paint negated the Vols’ ability to penetrate Mississippi State’s size in their zone defense.

Shooting guards Cam Tatum and Josh Richardson finished with a combined 0-11 from the field, and Jordan McRae and Skylar McBee added just eight points off the bench. The same offense that worked to perfection against Florida failed against the Bulldogs because the Vols could not capitalize on the opportunities they struggled so hard to create.

As usual, the performance from Tennessee’s sophomore point guard was telling of their offensive effectiveness. Despite leading the team in scoring with 20 points, the typically sure-handed Golden finished with five turnovers (tying his season high) and just four assists (all in the first half). Comparatively, Golden scored only 12 points against the Gators but had seven assists and just three turnovers. His scoring ability, especially deep beyond the ark, gives Tennessee an added threat, but the Vols’ offense hinges on Golden’s role as a facilitator and not a scorer.

With Kentucky waiting after a quick, 36-hour turn around, missed opportunities will lead to much more than a four-point loss against the Wildcats.