Why 2024 could be different for Tennessee men's basketball

As one would expect, 6-foot-6 guard Dalton Knecht was a major part of that. The 22-year-old transfer stuffed the stat sheet with 27 points (on 9-of-19 from the field and 2-of-5 from three), seven rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals. Yet again, Knecht showed he is a superstar.

"I just care about the win. Just went downhill, try to find my teammates or just look for my own shot," Knecht told reporters after the victory. "My teammates always knock down the shots, so shout out to my teammates."

Come March, he could be what makes 2024 different for the Volunteers (17-5, 7-2 in the SEC) in year nine of the Rick Barnes era.

There’s no question that Barnes’ tenure has been successful. Tennessee has made the NCAA Tournament five times and Sweet 16 twice. But he has yet to take the Volunteers to the Elite Eight, and the program still has not reached a Final Four.

But Knecht is the type of player who can change that. As one would expect from a Barnes-led team, Tennessee is elite defensively, ranking fifth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom.

Precedent shows that to be a championship contender, you must be elite on defense. But to make the final weekend of the Big Dance, you also need a player to rely on in crucial moments, someone who can get his own shot and make teammates’ lives easier.

Knecht fits that description to a T. Sure, he can make you pay from outside or off the bounce. When he simply has the ball in his hands, though, defenses freeze. That opens things up for the likes of pocket rocket guard Zakai Zeigler (17 points and three triples against LSU) and bruising big man Jonas Aidoo (10 points on 4-of-6 from the field).

When Knecht committed to the Volunteers in April of last year, after two seasons at Northeastern Junior College and two more at Northern Colorado, he figured to be a key piece. But in 22 games, he has proved to be even more.

"I knew I had only one year [at Tennessee], and had one year to make an impact," Knecht said. "I can’t thank my teammates enough for taking me in and just letting me be who I am."

Being who he is must continue. Tennessee, with nine games left before the conference tournament, is a half-game back of the first-place triumvirate of No. 15 South Carolina, No. 12 Auburn and No. 16 Alabama in the race for the SEC regular-season crown.

With the regular-season slate ending with a four-game gauntlet of home against Auburn, at Alabama, at South Carolina and home against No. 17 Kentucky, the Volunteers will be tested. To pass, they will need Knecht to do what he has done all season.

If he does, and Tennessee keeps rolling heading into the NCAA Tournament, then perhaps 2024 will be different.