COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the Tennessee basketball team walked onto the court with 14 seconds to play in regulation against Iowa on Sunday, a familiar face was missing.

Admiral Schofield was not on the floor, instead seated a few spots away from Vols coach Rick Barnes.

But the Vols coach didn’t make the decision to sit Schofield on the bench, according to the Vols. Schofield did, requesting to stay out and for the Vols coaches to put in center Kyle Alexander instead.

"It is going to change the game for us," Schofield recalled telling the Tennessee coaches. "He did a great job for us. ...

“I’m a winner. At the end of the day, if I don’t have to be on the floor to win, that’s fine.”

Schofield sat as guard Jordan Bone missed a game-winning 3-point attempt. He stayed there, never re-entering the game for the overtime period of Tennessee’s 83-77 win against Iowa.

He watched as Grant Williams took over the overtime period and Bone hit a clutch shot. And he watched Alexander defend, rebound and score in the extra period in a move Barnes said showed “great no selfishness.”

“He said, ‘Coach, leave Kyle in the game. We have to have him to rebound the ball for us,’” Barnes said. “The players, they have a feel better than probably anybody in the building. He felt like that was the best thing.”

Early on Sunday, Schofield was a main reason the Vols were winning. He hit 3-pointers on Tennessee’s opening two possessions and kept firing. He finished with 17 first-half points and hit three 3-pointers.

He was only 1-of-6 from the field in the second half, hitting a midrange jumper at a key point. As the game came down to the final moments, Schofield realized that Alexander would have a chance to influence the game in more ways than he could.

"The trust and connection we have on this team, it would be selfish on me to think I have to take the game in my hands when we are a team," Schofield said. "That is what we are. In that moment, I just want to win. I didn’t think I was giving us the best chance to win.”

Schofield battled foul trouble in the second half, picking up his fourth with 7:23 to play. His foul situation factored into his decision as well, as he told Barnes that he felt he could not guard the way he is capable of and likes to knowing that Iowa would try to get him to foul.

So he left the fate of his Tennessee career up to his teammates and removed himself from the game.

“AD is an unselfish guy," guard Lamonte Turner said. "AD told Coach that Kyle needed to be in. AD put himself on his bench. That speaks about AD’s character. He’s a great guy. We respect AD. He’s our leader of this team."

Alexander had a big game for Tennessee on Sunday. The senior center did not play in UT’s season-ending loss last year in the NCAA Tournament’s second round against Loyola Chicago. He was all over the floor this time.

He had eight points and nine rebounds. He also created problems for Iowa, most notably in the first half when he forced a shot-clock violation on Iowa’s Tyler Cook that had Schofield and Turner celebrating on the bench.

Barnes said that duo was adamant that Alexander play down the stretch. It paid off, and Schofield bolted off the bench to celebrate Tennessee’s first Sweet 16 berth since 2014.

“It’s trust and love," Williams said. "That’s the chemistry we have. It is that respect for him, like, dang. I will look back at that moment in years from now and say, ‘That is a great guy. That is a guy who really loves his team.’”

NCAA TOURNAMENT:Tennessee basketball holds off Iowa in overtime to reach Sweet 16

REXRODE: Grant Williams saves Tennessee basketball, Rick Barnes from a historic collapse

ADAMS:Tennessee moves a game closer to Final Four despite stunning Iowa comeback







