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The fifth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers faced the rapidly improving South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night. The Gamecocks, who are 17-3 and beaten a Top 10 Kentucky team by 17 points, are not in the Top 25. The Volunteers were playing at home and wanted to maintain their perfect record. This game resembled a classic Tennessee game from the past: a completely “defensive-minded” rock battle. You desired a certain tempo? Unfortunately. You were looking for a thrilling offense? Unfortunately. You desired to witness a top-notch basketball match? As well. Oh no. Not good. Play styles-wise, South Carolina got precisely what they wanted, forcing Tennessee to play half-court offense while controlling the tempo. Tennessee’s first home loss of the season came against South Carolina, 63-59, as one might have predicted from the stats above.

Maybe it was concentrating on Kentucky on Saturday and ignoring South Carolina. Maybe it was coming out too strong. Or maybe it was the defense of South Carolina. Regardless, Tennessee appeared disoriented.

Jonas Aidoo missed a wide-open layup on the left block to start the game, and it set the tone for the rest of the evening. The big man for Tennessee had a difficult game, but particularly in the first 20 minutes when he only grabbed one rebound, committed two fouls, and missed two layups. However, Tennessee’s offense was not limited to Aidoo; JP Estrella missed a dunk, Tobe Awaka missed a few layups, and the squad shot 36% from the field, 18% from three-point range, and failed to try a single free throw.