Dalton Knecht's place in UT history

[VolPack22]

The scoring record is still attainable. Let’s say we have roughly 9 games left, hopefully more of course, but that would mean a SECT championship appearance and put us into the Sweet 16. He could average about 24.9ppg and break the record. Or if we make the SECT championship and make the Elite 8 he could average 22.4ppg and break the record.

 

[VolArmy74]

I did and King never impacted a game like Dalton did against Auburn. King was good but he had Grunfield always on the outside. Dalton went outside, inside, and in the middle to beat any defense Bruce threw at him.

What??? King, as a freshman, had 24 points and 20 rebounds vs #4 Kentucky. King had to play the last 7 minutes with four fouls. The Kentucky effect was strong. King got all 24 points from the field and never went to the line. Kentucky couldn't stop him on the glass or from scoring. That Kentucky team lost in the final four to Wooden's last UCLA team.

March 5th, 1977, Vols vs Kentucky, who is ranked #2 in the nation at the time. Tennessee wins 81-79 after King scores 36 points and grabs 11 boards. No one else reached double figures in scoring for the Vols, Grunfeld was off and went 4-15 from the floor. The Vols trailed at the half, but King couldn't be stopped and he almost single-handedly kept his freshman season promise to destroy UK every time they played.

 

[WhenUrVolUrVFL]

If Dalton Knecht maintains his current scoring average of 20.8 ppg over the next 3 games plus any combination of 4 in the post-season, he'll reach 728 points. This would surpass Dale Ellis for 2nd place on the all-time season scoring chart, right below Allan Houston at 806. Since the team will likely accomplish far more than any of Houston's teams, this would arguably be the greatest single season by a single player in UT history. It's only been one season, but I would say, depending on what this team accomplishes, this would cement DK's legacy as one of the greatest VFLs of all time. Thoughts?

All due respect to other Vols—if Knecht leads us to the final four or more—it’s unchartered territory for our program.

That makes Knecht the GOAT of all Vols.

 

[wmcovol]

Knecht belongs in the King/Lofton/Houston category.

Dale Ellis is in that category. He led the Vols to SEC title, played post vs 7ft guys like Bowie, Turpin, Ralph Sampson. Developed his outside game to the point he once held the NBA record for 3 pt shooting and was an NBA All Star.

People today don’t realize how tough CBB was in the 70s-80s. Most great players played 3-4 yrs of college ball. Today, it’s one yr for most. Maybe 2. Shaq played 3 yrs. So did Jordan, Wilkins etc. Today, they’re in the league after 1 yr.

 

[jtipto10]

As someone who wasn't alive for the eras that I'm quoting, please give me some slack:

King got off the bus his freshman year and scored 43 in his first game, with no 3 point shot. But I'm not sure you can compare players from different eras.

A thing to note about the 60s-80s is that the game was waaaaay faster. Essentially, a guard came down the floor, looked for a post player, and if one wasn't open, either shot it himself, or passed to a wing who took a shot. For reference (NBA, I know) the Boston Celtics of 60 years ago (62-63) averaged 127 possessions per game. Last year's champs, the Nuggets, averaged 98. It's hard to compare stats from those eras.

Also, FG %s are higher now, but FT% has remained pretty constant. It's not that players were worse shooters back then, the game was just played in a way to maximize shots, not to work a possession for the highest % shot.

All that being said, does any of it really matter? King, Ellis, Houston, Lofton, Williams, Knecht... They're all great. People of all ages appreciate their contributions to our joy and awe. It's incredibly hard to compare them due to rules and styles of play and the 3 point line, and quality of teammates surrounding them, and ncaa tournament expansions and xyz, and quite frankly they don't need to be compared. They just worked their butts off for UT.

Enjoy Knecht in the here and now. We probably won't see another for a long time.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

King at 25 PPG for 3 seasons will always be the best; Don.t forget Ernie Grunfeld Ernie at 22 PPG for 4 seasons. If Dalton Knecht leads the Vols to a final four game he will be 3rd; if they get bumped before the sweet 16 he will always be a 1 year wonder & relegated to top ten status. If he quit & went home today I would I would vote to hang his jersey in the rafters as he will always be one of the best players to play for the Vols.
I went to my first Vol basketball game in 1969 & Dalton has the ability to take over a game as good as any player as I have seen !!!

...which raises a fascinating rhetorical question. How many teams have had two All-American caliber players who played at the same time and both averaged more than 20 points per game for their entire careers?

 

[Oldvoldad]

Because, once I’ve wit

Why are you done watching??

Because, once I’ve seen greatness. It will never feel the same again.

 

[Godfatha]

I d rank him anywhere from tied for 3rd best ever to 5th.. He is behind King and Ellis. I do not think he is any better than Allan Houston. And Tobias Harris is probably the better player as well.

Going to have to strongly disagree with this, certainly Tobias Harris. Houston was a great player on terrible teams, but he did not have the athletic ability DK has.