‘Punch it:’ Dalton Knecht explains highlight dunk in Tennessee basketball vs Michigan State

Impressive Dunk by Dalton Knecht Puts Tennessee Basketball in the Spotlight

EAST LANSING, Mich. − Dalton Knecht made a remarkable debut in his first game with Tennessee basketball, wowing the crowd with a jaw-dropping dunk over Michigan State’s Malik Hall.

The Vols guard received guidance from assistant coach Rod Clark to take charge and go for a powerful dunk, a challenge Knecht readily accepted. “I followed the instructions given by Coach Clark, stepped up, and threw it down. That’s exactly what I did,” Knecht shared.

Knecht’s incredible dunk secured him the No. 3 spot on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” following Tennessee’s thrilling victory over Michigan State, where the No. 9-ranked Vols triumphed over the No. 4-ranked Spartans with a close score of 89-88.

How Dalton Knecht Earned a Spot on “SportsCenter” with His Dunk

Knecht’s impressive play commenced with Jahmai Mashack’s block on Michigan State’s Jaden Akins. Knecht swiftly grabbed the ball and dribbled past half court, utilizing a behind-the-back dribble move to outmaneuver MSU guard Tre Holloman.

As Knecht, who had recently transferred from Northern Colorado, advanced towards the rim, he gathered himself and, with explosive power, elevated from his left foot, delivering a breathtaking dunk with his right hand over Malik Hall, who actively contested the shot and ended up fouling Knecht in the process.

When asked about the remarkable play, Knecht said, “It was just a two-on-one situation with me and Josiah-Jordan James, and I decided to take off and throw it down.”

Dalton Knecht’s Impressive Performance Against Michigan State

Following his memorable dunk, Knecht flexed with confidence while teammate Josiah-Jordan James celebrated with hands raised and an astonished expression. Knecht returned to the Tennessee huddle, exchanging high-fives with his teammates.

Even during a timeout, Knecht continued to revel in the moment, maintaining a smile as he stepped up to shoot the free throw. As the game progressed, the senior guard delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 28 points to Tennessee’s victory. Knecht showcased his shooting prowess, hitting 8-of-16 from the field and sinking 3-of-9 three-point attempts. Additionally, he excelled at the free-throw line, making 9-of-11 attempts. Knecht’s all-around game was further highlighted by his seven rebounds.

Michael Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. For more of his work, you can reach him via email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. Enjoy Mike’s coverage? Why not consider a digital subscription that grants you full access to all his insightful articles.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Dalton Knecht on highlight dunk for Tennessee basketball vs Michigan State