Admiral Schofield benched himself late to help Tennessee defense
Admiral Schofield has been one of the Tennessee Volunteers’ best players all season long, but he was conspicuously missing late as the Iowa Hawkeyes took them to overtime Sunday.
Speculation was rampant as to why, but the truth was simpler and more impressive: Schofield essentially pulled himself from the game, telling coach Rick Barnes that he felt Kyle Alexander could defend the Hawkeyes better.
Admiral Schofield told Rick Barnes late in the game to keep Kyle Alexander on the floor instead of putting him back in. He knew Kyle was the better defensive matchup.
Lamonte Turner: “That’s our leader.”
— @GrantRamey (@GrantRamey) March 24, 2019
Schofield’s late-game disappearance was certainly a talking point. He had been playing with four fouls, and it appears that he felt he simply couldn’t defend as aggressively or capably as he hoped to with that hanging over his head. It was risky, but it worked out, as the Volunteers prevailed in overtime without Schofield playing at all in the extra period.
