While Tennessee came up short in the Maui Invitational this week in Honolulu, Vols forward Dalton Knecht continued his high level of scoring on the court.
Knecht was named to the Allstate Maui Invitational All-Tournament team on Thursday after leading Tennessee in scoring in two of the three games of the tournament.
The former Northern Colorado transfer scored a team-high 17 against Syracuse, a team-high 16 against No. 2 Purdue, and 13 points against No. 1 Kansas, only trailing teammate Santiago Vescovi with 21 points. Knecht averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game over the three-day stretch.
Knecht’s 46-point performance in the Maui Invitational was indicative of two things here in the early part of the season. Knecht brings a needed consistent level of offense to Tennessee’s team on the court but he still has room to improve, especially in the small details, to continue climbing the ladder and cementing himself as a go-to player.
Head coach Rick Barnes noted some of those details and improvements after the loss to Kansas on Wednesday.
“Well, I don’t think I learned anything that I didn’t think coming in, that would happen,” Barnes said. “Would be, could he make in-game adjustments as much as we talk about it, try to give him the blueprint of how they’re gonna guard him, what they’re trying to do, and understanding how much harder he’s gonna have to work to get his space on the floor. He’s gonna have to do some things. I mean, he made some nice moves, got to the rim, missed some shots. We think when he gets in there, he’s gonna finish it. I think he’s gotta get back to getting his balance and he’d want to make some of those.”
More from RTI: ‘He’s a Pro’: College Scout Raves About Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht to ESPN
Knecht has played against three of the top four teams in the nation in his first eight games as a Tennessee Volunteer including the exhibition against then-No. 4 Michigan State along with No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Purdue in the Maui Invitational. While the transfer forward did impress in some sort of way in each of those games, playing competition of that caliber early in the season helps provide lessons to be learned before conference play starts.
“And really particular situations — I’m thinking of three right now – I don’t think their defense had anything to do with it,” Barnes said about some of the offensive plays and scoring chances that Knecht had against Kansas. “I thought he just missed the shot because he was off balance, maybe thinking somebody’s coming over to make a play because we did play against some size. But I would like to think that this tournament shows him how he’s gonna have to learn how to make those in-game adjustments in terms to how he’s being played.”
Even with room to improve, Knecht continued to show his high-level shooting from the perimeter, his ability to attack the basket, and his skill in transition from an offensive perspective in the tournament.
Dalton Knecht came to Tennessee to take on the best teams in the nation, which is exactly what happened in the Maui Invitational. And while Knecht and the Volunteers came up short in their goal from the week, Knecht’s playmaking on the court and scoring earned him a spot on the Allstate Maui Invitational All-Tournament lineup.
Here’s a look at the five players selected to the Maui Invitational All-Tournament team:
- Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
- Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
- Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
- Braden Smith, Purdue
- Anton Watson, Gonzaga
Maui Invitational MVP: Zach Edey, Purdue
For more on Rocky Top Insider’s coverage on Tennessee in the Maui Invitational tournament this week, see below:
Tennessee-Kansas (Wednesday)
- Tennessee Basketball Takeaways From Maui Invitational
- Familiar Issue Bites Tennessee In Loss Against No. 1 Kansas
- WATCH: Tennessee HC Rick Barnes Breaks Down Loss to Kansas in Maui Invitational
- What Rick Barnes Said After Tennessee Fell To No. 1 Kansas
Tennessee-Purdue (Tuesday)
- Purdue President Takes Shot at Tennessee, Danny White Responds
- WATCH: Tennessee HC Rick Barnes, Jahmai Mashack Purdue Postgame Press Conference
- What Rick Barnes, Jahmai Mashack Said After Vols Fell To Purdue
- Three Quick Takeaways: Tennessee Falls To Purdue In Maui Invitational Semifinals
Tennessee-Syracuse (Monday)
- Tennessee’s Veterans Deliver Down The Stretch Against Syracuse
- WATCH: Tennessee HC Rick Barnes, Players React to Maui Invitational Opening Win Over Syracuse
- What Rick Barnes, Tennessee Players Said After The Vols Defeated Syracuse
- Three Quick Takeaways: Tennessee Basketball Survives, Knocks Off Syracuse
One Response
Tennessee played like thugs the way the gabbed Edy from the rear, pulling him to the floor floor,only to bitch about getting hit with fouls, which was exactly what the refs saw. That has to be coming from their. coach. Matt Painter was too gracious afterwards, but that is his style.