Vanderbilt basketball has learned how to win with its defense, too

When this Vanderbilt men’s basketball team is at its best, it can make this sport a little more beautiful. There’s the fast-paced, free-flowing offense. The ball movement. Shots dropping. Points going up quickly.

All things that were missing from Vanderbilt’s 75-68 victory over Tennessee in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

The season’s rubber match between two rivals was a fight. Ugly and slow and physical and grueling and filled with starts and stops and reviews and whistles. It was what this sport can look like when Rick Barnes’ Vols have their way defensively.