Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: An Orange Championship Sunday

By Joey Johnston

As the confetti rained down from the rafters of Amalie Arena, as the orange-clad fans roared their approval (while they weren’t taking selfies), as everyone sung along to yet another verse of “Rocky Top,’’ Sunday afternoon was one heck of a great time to be a Tennessee Volunteer.

Just like it was one spectacular weekend to be in Tampa.

Following Tennessee’s 65-50 victory against the Texas A&M Aggies in the championship game of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, it was finally time to exhale after 13 games over four days and nights of tournament action, which produced a grand total of 100,076 fans.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Tampa’s hosting performance was “absolutely great.’’ He praised the work of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, which worked to make the event special, while showcasing all that the Tampa Bay area had to offer.

“We are so grateful for the faith the SEC had in us,’’ Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins said. “We loved hosting the event and having so many SEC fans enjoy our area. From start to finish, we all saw so much great basketball.’’

It was Florida’s determination and Vanderbilt’s guile. It was Kentucky’s blue-blooded fandom and Arkansas’ frenetic pace. It was certainly Texas A&M’s four days of grit. But ultimately, it was Tennessee’s well-earned and well-executed championship.

Tennessee had not won an SEC men’s basketball tournament championship since 1979, when Peyton Manning was barely out of diapers, when Pat Summitt was an unknown women’s basketball coach.

So this one was for anyone who watched Coach Ray Mears enter the Stokely Athletic Center with that garish orange blazer. It was for Reggie Johnson and Howard Wood, stars of the Big Orange’s last title team. It was for the “Ernie and Bernie Show,’’ Dale Ellis, Chris Lofton, Ron Slay, Tony White and, for the certifiable old-timers, the great Tom Boerwinkle.

It was for everyone who believed that the orange-and-white checkerboard was home sweet home to them.

“Basically, I’ve waited my whole life to see a moment like this,’’ said Tennessee graduate and Orlando resident Ryan Hmielewski, who attended the SEC Tournament with his 7-year-old son Miles. “The last time Tennessee won an SEC Tournament in men’s basketball, I was negative-2 years old. So yeah, this is a week we won’t forget.’’

For fans of the Aggies, even while falling short, the emotions were similar. Texas A&M, which joined the SEC in the 2012-13 school year, had not won a men’s basketball title since 1987, when it captured the program’s second Southwest Conference Men’s Tournament. With a dramatic overtime victory against the home-state Florida Gators — then upset wins against No. 1-seeded Auburn and No. 5 Arkansas — the No. 8-seeded Aggies defied the experts by making the SEC title game.

“I was in my dorm on Friday (after the Aggies upset Auburn) and my dad said, ‘We’re going to Tampa!’ ‘’ Texas A&M student Preston Culberson said. “So here we are. Everybody is hyping up our team on social media, getting really excited about what is happening. I think we can build on this.’’

“This team epitomizes what A&M is all about — hard work, never quit, stick together and good things can happen,’’ said Scott Culberson, Preston’s father. “We’re happy to have been here. Tampa seems like a pretty nice place.’’

That’s what ESPN and the SEC Network portrayed all week with shots of sparkling vistas such as the beaches, the Tampa skyline, the cruise ships, Centro Ybor, the palm trees and, of course, the water.

Lots and lots of water.

“I live in Michigan and when I’m home in January, I like to watch the golf from places like Kapalua because it’s so beautiful, such an escape, so relaxing,’’ said ESPN director Derek Mobley, who worked his 14th SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. “I’m sure it was the same sensation for all those people up north in the freezing cold and snow, watching this SEC Tournament from Tampa. It just looks like a place you’d like to visit and the whole thing gives the look of a big-time event.’’

All around Tampa, you knew a big-time event was taking place. Along the Riverwalk, you saw Tennessee orange, Kentucky blue, Mississippi State maroon and Alabama crimson. You could feel the SEC pride in restaurants, along the sidewalks and at the beaches.

“This is such a great destination for a sporting event,’’ said Jed Bowlin, who plays alto saxophone in the Texas A&M pep band. “It’s like paradise around here. We are so excited to stay through the weekend.’’

“This is like icing on the cake for me,’’ said Jonathan Taylor, a member of Tennessee’s cheering squad. “I grew up in Knoxville and always loved the Vols. To see this up close and actually be part of it, it’s like a dream come true.’’

For Tennessee senior dancers Madison Russell, Claire Skipper and Madison Dailey, it was their final SEC Tournament and now it’s on to their final NCAA Tournament.

“We have been to so many great places that it’s sad to see it end,’’ Skipper said. “It means much to our basketball players and school. So much hard work went into this.’’

Then she smiled and pointed around Amalie Arena.

“I think Tampa is probably the coolest place we’ve been,’’ Skipper said. “All of us have had a true blast.’’

Sankey said he believes the SEC has a great relationship with Tampa and visualized a time when the event might return, but it’s in the SEC-centralized location of Nashville at least through 2030 (with an option to stay through 2035). Sankey walked away with great feelings, though, because he knows the fans had a great time.

“Lots of smiling faces,’’ said Sankey, who enjoyed himself with a daily morning run along the Bayshore.

By game’s end Sunday, those smiling faces were wearing orange. Tennessee opened the game with a stunning 14-0 run over the first six minutes. The Aggies cut it to single digits a few times, but got no closer than five points (34-29 with 17:12 remaining) in the second half.

Other than that, it was Tennessee’s day.

When it was over, the Vols were led by freshman guard Kennedy Chandler (14 points), the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, along with all-tournament selections Santiago Vescovi (17 points) and Josiah-Jordan James (16 points, 10 rebounds).

If it was possible to bask in the Tampa sunshine while indoors, that’s what the Vols were doing. Vescovi wept openly while trying to compose himself during a radio interview. Donde Plowman, UT chancellor, beamed as she scaled the ladder to help cut down the nets. On the court’s far end, Vols 7-footer Uros Plavsic cut up one net and handed out strands to the UT band and cheerleaders.

Vols coach Rick Barnes had his moment, too, by cutting the net’s final strands, twirling it around, then putting it over his head. But mostly, he stood off to the side and took in the scene.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,’’ Barnes said. “This time of year is about players. It’s not about plays. It’s about players and players making plays. I think it’s their time. I’m so proud because I know the work they’ve put in and how hard they’ve trained. It’s something that they’ll forever enjoy throughout their life. It means a whole lot.’’

As they like to say in the SEC, it just means more.