So sad: I might not return Dalton Knecht declares urgent break due to his current status…….
Dalton Knecht’s decision to transfer to Tennessee and hopefully improve his NBA draft stock sure seems poised to pay off.
Both for him and the fifth-ranked Volunteers.
The 6-foot-6 forward leads the Southeastern Conference with 24.4 points per game since league play started in January — best for any high-major conference. His ability to knock down layups, dunks and 3-pointers has skyrocketed Knecht to a potential lottery pick this June.
Not only has Knecht played his way into consideration for both SEC and national player of the year, his ability to get key buckets could provide the missing link for coach Rick Barnes and Tennessee to finally earn the program’s first Final Four berth.
“We didn’t have a guy that could go get the points like Dalton did tonight when we needed them,” Barnes said Tuesday night after a win at Missouri.
Knecht’s scoring has put him in company with Tennessee legends like Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Chris Lofton and Allan Houston. With five regular-season games remaining, these Vols are a game back of No. 13 Alabama in the chase for the Southeastern Conference regular-season title.
“My teammates, they just told me it was going to be like this. But maybe I didn’t think it’s going to be like this much,” Knecht said. “But it’s just really cool just to see our work pay off and be with great teammates and great coaching staff.”
