Dalton Knecht scores 24 points to lead No. 9 Tennessee to 80-70 victory at Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Dalton Knecht hasn't needed any adjustment period to make the jump from the Big Sky Conference to high-major college basketball.
The transfer from Northern Colorado scored 24 points and continued a smooth transition to his new school as No. 9 Tennessee defeated Wisconsin 80-70 on Friday night.
The 6-foot-6 Knecht shot 8 of 15 from the floor and 7 for 9 on free throws, reaching 1,000 career points in two seasons plus two games of Division I ball.
"Dalton's a bad man, a very bad man,” teammate Tobe Awaka said.
Knecht led the Big Sky with 20.2 points per game last season. He averaged a team-best 16.3 points during Tennessee’s three-game exhibition tour of Italy this summer and had 17 points in his Volunteers debut Monday, an 80-42 blowout of Tennessee Tech.
His new teammates said Knecht's potential was apparent as soon as he arrived on campus. Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James said it was obvious the first time he worked out with Knecht.
“We're comfortable every time the ball is in his hands," said James, who scored 14 points. “In the crunch time of the games - the last eight minutes - we feed off of him on the offensive end. He led us to the promised land today.”
Jonas Aidoo and Jordan Gainey each added 10 points for Tennessee (2-0).
AJ Storr scored 17, Steven Crowl 14, Chucky Hepburn 13 and Tyler Wahl 10 for Wisconsin (1-1). All of Wahl's points came in the second half.
Tennessee had a 43-35 lead at the break after shooting 15 of 27 over the first 20 minutes and closing the first half on a 12-4 run. Wisconsin continually crept closer in the second half, but Tennessee answered every time.
“We kept cutting it and making it close, and then we couldn't get over that hump," Crowl said. “I think the main thing for us is our defense. We've got to tighten some things up on defense.”
After Wahl scored to cut the Vols’ lead to 54-53 with 11:45 left, Tennessee responded on its next possession as James scored with the shot clock about to expire. Wisconsin’s Nolan Winter then missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 10:44 remaining.
Wisconsin shaved the deficit to three again on another basket by Wahl with 8:03 to go, but Knecht answered by driving the baseline, scoring and drawing a foul to convert a 3-point play. That started a 9-2 run in which Wisconsin missed three straight free throws.
Tennessee's lead didn't drop below six the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee: The Vols did a nice job of staying poised while facing an early road test in front of a sellout crowd. They shot 50% from the floor - they were 5 of 17 on 3s but 23 of 39 from inside the arc - and showcased their depth by outscoring Wisconsin 23-8 in bench points.
Wisconsin: This represented the first big test in the Badgers' grueling pre-holiday schedule. Wisconsin hosts No. 5 Marquette on Dec. 2, visits No. 4 Michigan State in its Big Ten opener Dec. 5 and travels to No. 12 Arizona on Dec. 9. The Badgers will need to shoot better from 3-point range and the foul line to have a chance in those games. Wisconsin went 6 of 24 on 3-point attempts and 14 of 23 on free throws Friday.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Wisconsin received the most votes of any team not in the preseason Top 25, so a victory almost certainly would have put the Badgers in the poll next week.
UP NEXT
Tennessee: Will host Wofford on Tuesday.
Wisconsin: Plays at Providence on Tuesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Santiago Vescovi vs. Steven Crowl (Volunteers gains possession) | |||
19:50 | Jahmai Mashack misses two point jump shot | |||
19:48 | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | |||
19:44 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot | 2-0 | |
19:33 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
19:31 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
19:19 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point jump shot | 4-0 | |
18:57 | +3 | Steven Crowl makes three point jump shot (Max Klesmit assists) | 4-3 | |
18:44 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
18:42 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
18:34 | Santiago Vescovi personal foul | |||
18:22 | Steven Crowl misses three point jump shot | |||
18:20 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
18:05 | +2 | Josiah-Jordan James makes two point layup | 6-3 | |
17:47 | AJ Storr misses two point layup | |||
17:45 | Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass) (Jahmai Mashack steals) | |||
17:40 | +2 | Jahmai Mashack makes two point layup | 8-3 | |
17:20 | Steven Crowl misses two point layup | |||
17:18 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
17:13 | Jonas Aidoo offensive foul | |||
17:13 | Jonas Aidoo turnover (offensive foul) | |||
17:01 | +3 | Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (AJ Storr assists) | 8-6 | |
16:31 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup | 10-6 | |
16:20 | Dalton Knecht shooting foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
16:20 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-7 | |
16:20 | AJ Storr misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
16:20 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
16:05 | +3 | Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot | 13-7 | |
15:36 | +2 | Nolan Winter makes two point layup (AJ Storr assists) | 13-9 | |
15:20 | Josiah-Jordan James misses three point jump shot | |||
15:19 | Tobe Awaka personal foul | |||
15:18 | TV timeout | |||
14:52 | John Blackwell misses two point layup | |||
14:50 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
14:45 | +2 | Jordan Gainey makes two point jump shot (Dalton Knecht assists) | 15-9 | |
14:19 | Jahmai Mashack personal foul (Max Klesmit draws the foul) | |||
14:11 | +2 | Steven Crowl makes two point hook shot | 15-11 | |
13:55 | Connor Essegian shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
13:55 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-11 | |
13:55 | Dalton Knecht misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
13:55 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
13:29 | Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot | |||
13:27 | Santiago Vescovi defensive rebound | |||
13:15 | Steven Crowl blocks Jonas Aidoo's two point dunk | |||
13:13 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
13:12 | Santiago Vescovi personal foul | |||
13:00 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
12:58 | Tyler Wahl offensive rebound | |||
12:55 | Tyler Wahl turnover (Jordan Gainey steals) | |||
12:55 | +2 | Santiago Vescovi makes two point layup | 18-11 | |
12:55 | AJ Storr shooting foul | |||
12:41 | +1 | Santiago Vescovi makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-11 | |
12:25 | +2 | Chucky Hepburn makes two point jump shot | 19-13 | |
12:07 | Zakai Zeigler misses two point jump shot | |||
12:05 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
11:52 | John Blackwell misses two point layup | |||
11:50 | Steven Crowl offensive rebound | |||
11:48 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
11:46 | Connor Essegian offensive rebound | |||
11:44 | +2 | Connor Essegian makes two point layup | 19-15 | |
11:38 | Chucky Hepburn personal foul | |||
11:38 | TV timeout | |||
11:27 | Zakai Zeigler turnover (lost ball) | |||
11:13 | Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot | |||
11:11 | Zakai Zeigler defensive rebound | |||
11:02 | +2 | Jonas Aidoo makes two point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 21-15 | |
10:33 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point dunk (Tyler Wahl assists) | 21-17 | |
10:09 | Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot | |||
10:07 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
9:58 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
9:56 | Chucky Hepburn offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot | |||
9:48 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
9:48 | Josiah-Jordan James personal foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul) | |||
9:48 | Tyler Wahl misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
9:48 | Tobe Awaka defensive rebound | |||
9:38 | Dalton Knecht turnover (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
9:38 | Jahmai Mashack personal foul | |||
9:38 | +1 | Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-18 | |
9:38 | +1 | Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-19 | |
9:21 | Josiah-Jordan James turnover (bad pass) | |||
9:01 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 21-21 | |
8:52 | Jahmai Mashack misses two point layup | |||
8:50 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
8:36 | Tyler Wahl turnover (bad pass) | |||
8:18 | Max Klesmit shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
8:18 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-21 | |
8:18 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-21 | |
8:01 | +2 | Chucky Hepburn makes two point layup | 23-23 | |
7:51 | Dalton Knecht turnover (bad pass) | |||
7:51 | TV timeout | |||
7:32 | Markus Ilver misses three point jump shot | |||
7:30 | Tobe Awaka defensive rebound | |||
7:17 | Tobe Awaka offensive foul | |||
7:17 | Tobe Awaka turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:01 | Jonas Aidoo blocks Steven Crowl's two point layup | |||
6:59 | Josiah-Jordan James defensive rebound | |||
6:52 | Josiah-Jordan James misses two point jump shot | |||
6:50 | Markus Ilver defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | Jonas Aidoo blocks Chucky Hepburn's two point jump shot | |||
6:36 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | +3 | Josiah-Jordan James makes three point jump shot (Santiago Vescovi assists) | 26-23 | |
6:05 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point jump shot | 26-25 | |
5:46 | +2 | Dalton Knecht makes two point layup | 28-25 | |
5:31 | Connor Essegian turnover (traveling) | |||
5:31 | Jonas Aidoo misses two point jump shot | |||
5:29 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
5:00 | +3 | AJ Storr makes three point jump shot (Tyler Wahl assists) | 28-28 | |
4:37 | Zakai Zeigler turnover (Connor Essegian steals) | |||
4:37 | Connor Essegian turnover (lost ball) | |||
4:33 | +3 | Dalton Knecht makes three point jump shot (Zakai Zeigler assists) | 31-28 | |
4:33 | +3 | Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot | 31-31 | |
4:02 | Tyler Wahl shooting foul (Dalton Knecht draws the foul) | |||
4:02 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-31 | |
4:02 | +1 | Dalton Knecht makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-31 | |
3:47 | AJ Storr misses two point layup | |||
3:45 | Jonas Aidoo defensive rebound | |||
3:22 | +3 | Zakai Zeigler makes three point jump shot (Dalton Knecht assists) | 36-31 | |
3:19 | Josiah-Jordan James shooting foul (Connor Essegian draws the foul) | |||
3:19 | TV timeout | |||
3:19 | +1 | Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-32 | |
3:19 | +1 | Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-33 | |
3:08 | Dalton Knecht misses three point jump shot | |||
3:06 | Jonas Aidoo offensive rebound | |||
3:06 | +3 | Jordan Gainey makes three point jump shot (Jonas Aidoo assists) | 39-33 | |
3:06 | Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot | |||
3:04 | Jahmai Mashack defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Max Klesmit personal foul | |||
2:10 | Jordan Gainey misses two point jump shot | |||
2:08 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Chucky Hepburn offensive foul | |||
2:01 | Chucky Hepburn turnover (offensive foul) | |||
1:46 | +2 | Cade Phillips makes two point dunk (Jahmai Mashack assists) | 41-33 | |
1:46 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point jump shot | 41-35 | |
1:00 | Kamari McGee personal foul (Jahmai Mashack draws the foul) | |||
1:00 | +1 | Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-35 | |
1:00 | +1 | Jahmai Mashack makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-35 | |
0:36 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
0:34 | Dalton Knecht defensive rebound | |||
0:27 | Volunteers 30 second timeout | |||
0:08 | Jordan Gainey misses three point jump shot | |||
0:06 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Tyler Wahl misses two point jump shot | |||
0:00 | End of period |