Tennessee is 'unstoppable' during 18-0 run that dooms Creighton, puts 2-seed Volunteers into Elite Eight

The Volunteers showed what they are capable of in a 82-75 victory vs. the Bluejays on Friday in the Sweet 16

By David Cobb Mar 30, 2024 at 12:38 pm ET• 4 min read

DETROIT — There were 24 seconds left on the shot clock, and all five Creighton players were back on defense. Tennessee didn't have a numbers advantage, but it had momentum, and it had Dalton Knecht.

The Volunteers' All-American guard took one dribble toward the basket from the right wing and promptly drew a crowd of defenders. As a swarm of Bluejays approached, he swung a quick pass to Josiah-Jordan James in the corner. Before Creighton guard Trey Alexander could complete his closeout, James launched.

His shot hit nothing but net, capping off an 18-0 run that defined Tennessee's 92-87 win over Creighton in the Sweet 16 on Friday. In many ways, the spurt defined the Volunteers' season.

Six days after hitting just 3 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc in an ugly, defense-oriented win over No. 7 seed Texas in the second round, the No. 2 seed Volunteers' electric, game-changing spurt against Creighton illustrated the chameleon-esque identity which has made this group just the second in school history to reach an Elite Eight. Awaiting Sunday is a Midwest Regional final showdown with No. 1 seed Purdue.