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Chaz Lanier, No. 1 Tennessee Trolled By CBB Fans for Blowout Loss vs. No. 8 Florida

Andrew PetersJanuary 8, 2025

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Rueben Chinyelu #9 of the Florida Gators reacts after blocking a shot by Chaz Lanier #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of a game at Stephen C. O'Connell Center on January 07, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
James Gilbert/Getty Images

The No. 1 team and final unbeaten squad in college basketball has fallen.

Top-ranked Tennessee lost to No. 8 Florida in blowout fashion, 73-43 on Tuesday in Gainesville. The Vols came into the game 14-0 riding the momentum of a big win over No. 23 Arkansas on Saturday.

It was an uncharacteristically poor shooting night from Tennessee as the Vols shot 21.4 percent from the field and a dreadful 13.8 percent from deep. Tennessee also made just 62.5 percent of its free throws.

The offensive struggles were most noticeable for star guard Chaz Lanier, who came into the game putting up 20.3 points per game. The North Florida transfer had just 10 points on 3-of-16 from the field and 1-of-9 from deep.

After the embarrassing loss, fans called out the Vols for failing to show up in Gainesville.

Auburn Memes @AuburnMemes

It's almost like Tennessee has played 10 Quad 3 &amp; 4 games <a href="https://t.co/7xmt5GVAIX">pic.twitter.com/7xmt5GVAIX</a>

Matt Norlander @MattNorlander

Florida is eviscerating No. 1 Tennessee; only question now is what the final margin is.<br><br>If you're wondering about the largest loss by a No. 1 ever, here's the NCAA record book. No. 2 Kentucky beating No. 1 St. John's by 41 back in '51 is the long-standing record. <a href="https://t.co/mmqfLmFhcv">pic.twitter.com/mmqfLmFhcv</a>

Chaz Lanier, No. 1 Tennessee Trolled By CBB Fans for Blowout Loss vs. No. 8 Florida
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Adam Spencer @AdamSpencer4

Tennessee might become the first No. 1 team to go from the top spot to unranked.

Graham Hall @GrahamHall

Tennessee's 43 points tonight is the fewest the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gators?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gators</a> have allowed in the Todd Golden era. <br><br>Florida gets a 30-point victory over the top-ranked team in the nation.

MattBeGreat @mattbegreatyt

Tennessee football and basketball getting blown out by the #8 seed <a href="https://t.co/KN88gqKrnA">pic.twitter.com/KN88gqKrnA</a>

Dylan Holt @DylanHolt_

The Tennessee Volunteers <a href="https://t.co/LE5IEb7KFp">pic.twitter.com/LE5IEb7KFp</a>

Frank DeLuca @FrankDeLucaTV

This week, Chaz Lanier said it was "a beatdown" when his North Florida team lost to Florida in 2021.<br><br>North Florida lost by 30 points to the Gators in that game.<br><br>The top-ranked, undefeated Vols just lost to Florida by that same margin.

🏀🌪️Gront🌪️🏀 @GrantKessler8

Tennessee <a href="https://t.co/LC7KBAobAu">pic.twitter.com/LC7KBAobAu</a>

College Basketball Report @CBKReport

#1 Tennessee just played an entire game against #8 Florida and made 12 shots. <br><br>Through a whole 35 minutes of game time, #1 Tennessee had 7 made baskets. <br><br>They just got smacked by THIRTY, 73-43.<br><br>Florida is dangerous.

GrizzAllDay @grizzallday

Wow Tennessee is genuinely horrid at basketball😭<br>Making 12 shots in a game is embarrassing

The good news for Tennessee is that it will get a fairly manageable three-game stretch to forget about Tuesday night's dud. The Vols will face Texas, Georgia and Vanderbilt before a gauntlet at the end of January when they'll play Mississippi State, Auburn, Kentucky and Florida again.

Florida faced its first loss of the season on Saturday against Kentucky, but the Gators quickly bounced back with arguably the best win in all of college basketball this season. They'll look to keep their momentum going when they face Arkansas on Saturday.

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