If this Tennessee basketball team is ever going to peak, now is the first deadline.

On Thursday, the Volunteers knocked Auburn out of the Southeastern Conference tournament, 72-62, with an astounding 20-point run. Nate Ament was the star.

Well-rested Vanderbilt stands in the way of advancement but there is a bonus opportunity for the Vols, revenge in Nashville for what happened last Saturday in Knoxville.

Friday tipoff time is 3:30 at Bridgestone Arena. The SEC Network will offer the telecast.

Rick Barnes said he doesn’t think, by any stretch of the imagination, that his team has peaked.

“By now, we should really, truly have a real identity of who we are.”

That sounded like the coach is in the same boat with the rest of us – with no way to know what might happen next.

For most of 30 minutes against Auburn, the Vols were the second-best team on the floor. The Tigers were tougher on defense. They got more rebounds. They were winning with hustle plays.

Vol guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie was whistled for two early fouls. Auburn scored 13 consecutive points. Barnes took the risk of returning Gillespie to the battle. He had little choice.

Tiger guard Tahaad Pettiford was running wild. Auburn went up 29-18. Pettiford had half of the Tigers’ 32 first-half points. Ament’s high-ankle sprain was much improved. He scored 10. Tennessee’s 25 were the second-fewest first-half total of this season.

Not much changed in the first nine minutes of the second half. The landmark score was 49-39. Ament suddenly rejoined the fray. He was some degree of sensational. He scored 10 in less than three minutes.

Gillespie got into the swing of things. The Vols were all at once much better on defense. Auburn went almost forever without scoring. Tennessee got 20 in a row.

There was more good news. Tennessee totaled only six turnovers.

Ament finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He blocked three Auburn shots.

“We did not know coming in,” said Barnes. “I didn’t know what to expect. He hadn’t practiced with us in two weeks.”

Gillespie contributed 15 points and three steals. Jaylen Carey hit three of six field-goal attempts and three of four free throws. He had seven rebounds.

Pettiford led with 28 points (five of 10 threes).

I thought Auburn coach Steve Pearl showed restraint in not saying what he seemed to be thinking.

“We went eight and a half minutes without drawing a foul. When there is a run like Tennessee had, what we try and do to break it up is get to the foul line. I got to go back and watch the tape.

“Eight and a half minutes against a team that’s as physical as Tennessee without a foul called, that’s tough because that’s a really physical team and they do a great job defensively.”

Pearl was tagged with a technical foul for something he said during the game. There should be no penalty for his post-game remarks.

Pearl credited Barnes with “great adjustments at halftime. I knew he would.”

Barnes expressed “great respect for Steven as a first-year coach. I think he’s done really well, I really do.”

Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com

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