Tennessee assistant coach Rod Clark butted in before Chaz Lanier could answer the question in the crowded entrance to the Vols’ locker room at Rupp Arena on Saturday night. Is Lanier trying to get in the ‘One Shining Moment’ video?
“Yes he is,” Clark intervened from a few feet away. “He was talking about it yesterday. Yes he is. Can’t lie about it.”
CBS has broadcasted a montage video to the song “One Shining Moment” since 1987 and it has come a focal point to conclude the tournament. The short video plays top highlights and moments from the tournament. Playing in his first NCAA Tournament, Lanier is soaking it all in with Tennessee basketball.
“10-year old Chaz would be looking at the TV in awe,” Lanier said following the Vols’ 67-58 win over UCLA. “Me and my mom used to watch March Madness all the time sitting on the couch. We always watched all the guys who blew up in March Madness and to be one of those guys who’s able to come out here and showcase his talents with a special group of guys, it’s just … a full circle moment.”
Through two games, Lanier is lighting up the Big Dance. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard went for 29 points in Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament opener against Wofford before scoring 20 points against UCLA to punch the Vols’ ticket to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season.
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Perimeter shooting is Lanier’s bread-and-butter and he’s doing it an elite level in his first NCAA Tournament run. Lanier is shooting 10-for-18 from three-point range this tournament including a four-for-five performance against the Bruins.
The sharpshooter’s third made triple against UCLA was the 119th of his season making him the Vols’ new single-season three-pointers made record holder.
“We understand what we’re in the tournament, we understand what this time of year is about,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said of Lanier. “He hasn’t strayed away from his routine, what he needs to do. Last three weeks he’s been very aggressive shooting the ball. But I think his focus is — he’s gotten so much better at paying attention to detail, but in terms of his personal psyche coming in, I thought it’s something he really embraced. Something he dreamed about being a part of.”
Tennessee was never going to be able to recreate what Dalton Knecht gave them last season. But Lanier has matched anyone in orange’s most optimistic expectations for him. His offense gave Tennessee a needed boost in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament and they’ll need it again next week in Indianapolis.
