Tennessee did what it had to do on Tuesday night, protecting its home court and escaping with a one-point win over Vandy. That win leaves the Vols at 3-4 in the league standings, squarely in the middle of the pack of what's a jumbled conference race at the moment.

In hanging on down the stretch for their second straight one point victory, the Vols moved themselves one step further from the league cellar and answered some questions about their ability to close out tight games.

Those two wins keep Tennessee relevant in a crowded conference race that's packed with teams still trying separate themselves from the herd. At 3-4, the Vols are one of seven teams within two games of third place in a league, that outside of first-place Florida, looks devoid of great teams.

Watching close games slip away late as they did at Alabama, at Ole Miss and at Kentucky earlier this season was a bitter pill for the team to swallow. If even one of those contests--and the Bama game really sticks out--goes the other way, the Vols league fortunes look significantly better.

Learning how to stay calm and play with poise under pressure is an acquired skill though, and something this team has certainly had to learn as the season has progressed.


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