Frontcourt issues persist for Texas
Texas was beat in the frontcourt in the second half of this game. Not only did Tennessee win the paint scoring battle, 16-10 in the second half, but it also outrebounded the Longhorns by double digits.
In the second half, the Longhorns were outrebounded 24-13. One-quarter of the Vols 41 second-half points were second-chance points. Tennessee outscored Texas in second-chance points by a margin of 9-2 in the game's final 10 minutes, contributing to the Vols successful comeback down the stretch.
Texas needed more on the defensive end of the floor from senior big man Kadin Shedrick and senior forward Arthur Kaluma. Texas's starting frontcourt only combined for four defensive rebounds while allowing over 20 second-chance points to the Vols' bigs.
Shedrick was a beast on the offensive glass, reeling in a game and season-high seven offensive rebounds. But Shedrick didn't have a single defensive rebound, and he was just 1-of-5 shooting from the field.
Early foul trouble contributed to Shedrick having to play more reserved contesting and jostling for positioning in the defensive floor paint in the second half.
Texas has been outrebounded by a double-digit margin (-10.33 net rebounds) in its three SEC games to start conference play. Giving up these valuable extra possessions while letting up easy points to top-notch opponents in the paint in the second halves of close SEC games has been a huge factor in the Longhorns' three-game losing streak to start conference play.