University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Notes: Vols 83, Gators 69
January 06, 2016 | Men's Basketball
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Smokey Grey Debut: The Volunteers donned their new Smokey Grey Nike uniforms for the first time on Wednesday. The uniforms are a nod to the 1911 and 1912 Volunteers teams with a dark grey stripe across the chest. It was just the second time since 1950 which the Vols wore grey uniforms. They wore them in the 2014 SEC Tournament against Florida.
Gator Hunting: With a 14-pint win Tennessee posted its largest win over Florida since a 16-point win (79-63) on Jan. 31, 2009 in Knoxville. For much of the game, the Vols flirted with what would have been the largest win since a 35-point win (91-56) on Feb. 10, 1999 in Knoxville or a 22-point win (104-82) on Feb. 5, 2008 in Knoxville.
Home Sweet Home: The Vols continued their perfect start to the season at home with a 83-69 victory. Tennessee is now 8-0 at the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena.
Streak Snappers: The victory for the Vols snapped Florida's four-game win streak in the series, the Vols last win over the Gators was 64-58 on Feb. 26, 2013. It also snapped a three-game losing streak for the Vols in SEC home openers. The Vols last home win in a conference home opener was against against Florida, 67-56, in 2012.
Huge Half: The Vols' 53-31 lead at halftime (+22) was its largest in a game since leading Auburn by 24 points (44-20) in the 2014 SEC Tournament.
Smokey Grey Suits Punter: Kevin Punter started the game making his first seven shots from the floor. He had 18 points in the first half for the second game in a row as he also did it at Auburn on Saturday.
Punter had his 11th game this season with 20-plus points, finishing with 26. He didn't have a 20-point game in his first year with the Vols in 2014-15. For comparison, the nation's leading scorer among Power 5 schools Oklahoma's Buddy Hield (26.3) has 10 games this season with 20-plus points.
Admiral Reporting For Service: True freshman Admiral Schofield had his second consecutive strong game, in his second ever SEC conference game. On the heels of a 22-point effort at Auburn last Saturday, he dropped 17, including 15 in the first half, vs. the Gators.
Double-Figs: The Vols had four players score in double-figures led by Punter's 26. He was joined by Schofield (17), Robert Hubbs III (12) and Derrick Mostella (10).
For Punter, it was his 13th game this season and 31st in his Vol career with 10-plus points. It was Schofield's fourth this season, Hubbs' 10th this season and 18th career. For Mostella, it was his fourth double-figure game this season and sixth in his career.
