Rick Barnes opens up on what led to Dalton Knecht's success vs. Auburn

Dalton Knecht has been putting up the points all season long, especially in conference play. That included on Wednesday when he went for nearly 40 again in a Top-15 win over Auburn.

Rick Barnes opened his postgame press conference by discussing the 39-point performance from Knecht following the 92-84 victory over the Tigers. 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,” said Barnes. “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.

What’s more impressive is how much of it came once the Volunteers faced their largest deficit of eight. 25 of the 39 for Knecht came within the last 12:01 of the game as he made nine of his last 11 shots, including three of four three-pointers. In that time, only three of this other teammates scored one basket apiece. That meant the scoring that helped to turn a 63-55 lead for Tigers into a 92-84 victory for the home team on Rocky Top was essentially all him.

Knecht was a star among stars in a game that Barnes felt was full of them between two of the best in the Southeastern Conference.

“It was a high-level game. I thought both teams played extremely hard. Nothing easy came on either end,” said Barnes. “Both teams? Really impressed with all the players that played. Honestly, it was a high-level, hard-fought game.”

Knecht is now averaging career highs at 20.8 points while shooting 48.2% from the field and 41.4% from three. Those are among some of the best offensive statistics in the country as he’s tied for 11th nationally in scoring. He’s also now leading the league in scoring as someone who could become SEC Player of the Year soon.

Knecht also, after last night, has one of the best showings that Barnes has ever witnessed in his career as a coach.

“That performance Dalton had? I mean what he did in the last, what, 12 minutes, I think? It’s just one of the great performances I’ve been able to see,” said Barnes.