Tennessee is 'Final Four good' with Dalton Knecht, Seth Greenberg says

If Tennessee is going to make the Final Four this year, the Volunteers will run through Dalton Knecht. That’s what ESPN’s Seth Greenberg thinks could happen this March.

One of the best players in college basketball this season, the Volunteers will likely go as far as he takes them. Of course, it helps that Rick Barnes’ squad has other talent on the floor. But if this SEC school is to make a big run in March Madness, Knecht will lead them there.

“I think they’re Final Four good,” Greenberg said on SportsCenter. “You think about this Volunteer team, they’ve been so close to have one guy that can play through the end of the game that can take over and Dalton Knecht is that guy. Four games with 35-plus games six games 30. Whether he’s gonna spread the ball and screen, whether it’s in isolation, whether it’s in the mid-post, this is a guy that late game you can play through and finish a game. 

“He did it against Auburn, he’s done it all season long. He is a matchup problem because he’s a three-level scorer, shoots almost (38%) from three, can put it on the floor and plays. Dalton Knecht is the difference maker.”

After transferring from Northern Colorado, Knecht has been nothing short of a revelation for Tennessee basketball. This season, Knecht averages 20.8 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, shoots 48.2% from the floor and 41.4% from three-point range.

Barnes opened his postgame press conference by discussing the 39-point performance from Knecht following the 92-84 victory over Auburn, as Greenberg referenced. When Tennessee needed baskets the most, Banres said they looked to him and he turned it on in time to get them the lead and the win.

“At the end, obviously, Dalton? We were struggling to score. That had a lot to do with what they were doing,” Barnes said. “He was struggling at the free-throw line. But he got it going.

“We just said, hey, we’re going to get it to him,” Barnes said. “You other guys get ready to try and get him open and he’ll make a play.”

Knecht went for 39 points, tied for a career-high with an outing earlier this season. He did so while finishing 12-21 (57.1%) from the field, including 5-8 (62.5%) from three, and making 10 of his dozen attempts at the free-throw line.