NCAA Tournament - #2 Tennessee holds off #3 Creighton, advances to 2nd Elite Eight in program history
Jason Fitz, Krysten Peek and Danny Green discuss the Volunteers' Sweet 16 win over the Blue Jays, dissecting standout performances from players on both sides.
Video Transcript
JASON FITZ: For only the second time in school history, Tennessee is headed to the Elite Eight by way of a win over Creighton. Krysten Peek, Danny Green, Jason Fitz. Look, this was all about superstars. We all knew we were going to see Scheierman versus Dalton Knecht. Everybody knew this was going to be a big moment. Tennessee's defense was great. Danny, I just keep looking at this Tennessee team thinking, man, they have found different ways to win every single game so far in this tournament.
DANNY GREEN: They've done extremely well. Dalton Knecht had a better game than he did last game, shot better. The two stars showed up but the supporting cast. I think Tennessee showed even more poise and was better, more aggressive defensively, and got out in transition.
And I have to give flowers to my guy Zakai Zeigler from Long Island. He's a fellow Long Islander and actually went to my Team Green Camp when he was a youngster. And he's had a hell of a tournament, and he played the whole game, missed some free throws down the end of the stretch, but he capitalized and was big for them tonight in getting that win.
JASON FITZ: I mean, KP, you think about this. Creighton had every opportunity to try and get their way into this game. If you look at the numbers, it's surprising that Creighton didn't win. But Tennessee found a way.
KRYSTEN PEEK: Absolutely. I mean, and we talk about Dalton Knecht. And he came to play tonight. But also on Creighton's side, Baylor Scheierman. I mean, when we're looking at draft stocks specifically, he did himself a lot of favors tonight, finishing with 25 points, 4 for 9 from 3. So he was the one that was cooking for Creighton.
But the other two main players, Ryan Kalkbrenner, the center, he didn't get a field goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half. He didn't even get a touch. So kudos to Tennessee for clogging the lane there.
And Trey Alexander, I mean, that guy, he could not hit a shot to save his life. This is a guy who averages 17 points per game heading into tonight, and he only finished with 13. So tough break for Creighton, but like I said, if we're looking at half glass full, Baylor Scheierman did himself a lot of favors in this tournament.
JASON FITZ: If there's anything we can be sure of, there's going to be a sea of orange in the Elite Eight match-up. Because it's not that far to get from Tennessee to Michigan for this one. And I'm telling you, that orange Rocky Top is going to play too much for all of us. It's fun, though, that Tennessee continues their run all the way to the Elite Eight.