KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dalton Knecht is scoring at a rate for Tennessee men's basketball not seen since Chris Lofton.
He has five 30-point scoring efforts this season, He has hit that mark four times in the last five games as well. The last to accomplish both feats was Lofton.
"He is very impressive," Lofton told WBIR. "He plays with passion, he competes and he's not afraid of the big moment."
That amount of 30-point games has not been seen since the 2006-2007 season when Lofton had six such games. The former guard compared what he was able to do scoring and what Knecht is doing now.
"Well it seems like he is breaking all my records so he is doing a little better than me it seems like," Lofton said with a laugh. "You got to realize he is a 6'6" athlete it is a little different than me being 6'1". It's fun to watch him play, Break all my records. It's one of those where you want the Volunteer team to do good and it seems like when he is scoring they're winning so that's all that matters to me."
Lofton said it's fun to see a scoring threat like this at UT once again.
"It's great to watch," he said. "I'll be here in Lexington and people will come up to me and say, 'That Knecht kid can play.' He's got attention around the world and he definitely deserves it."
Lofton will be at the game on Saturday when the Vols take on rival Kentucky. He is looking forward to it and watching Knecht light up the scoreboard. The last player to score 30 points on the road at Kentucky was Lofton who had 31 in a win back in 2006. When asked if Knecht can do it for the first time since then, the VFL said he believes Knecht can get it done.
"The way it's looking yes, he gets it done," Lofton said.
