Inside Jordan Gainey’s game-winning shot for Tennessee at Illinois

On December 15, 2024By Littum

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rick Barnes had to be creative.

It was 1980, and the Tennessee basketball coach was in his first season as an assistant at George Mason. He was desperate to get the Patriots on the map despite a small recruiting budget.

The coaching staff devised a plan, a plan that led Barnes to DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he had a simple question for legendary coach Morgan Wootten.

“Coach, you’ve been doing this a long time,” Barnes said. “I need you to give me your favorite game.”

Tennessee ran that game Saturday at Illinois (7-3) and executed it masterfully as Jordan Gainey got the game-winning layup at the buzzer, driving No. 1 Vols (10-0) for the 66-64 victory.

How Rick Barnes learned the play Tennessee ran to win at Illinois

George Mason coach Joe Harrington spearheaded the scheme to make the most of the staff’s limited resources.

The Patriots would send a monthly newsletter to all high school coaches within a 250-mile radius of the campus in Fairfax, Virginia. It would be filled with plays and insights from local coaches. The favorite game question was a centerpiece, and Wootten’s game was the highlight of the first newsletter.

It came back 44 years later when Gainey gave the ball to a referee with 5.7 seconds to play at the State Farm Center.

Gainey, who had a game-high 23 points, was the inbounder, with his teammates lined up almost in a row near center court. Jahmai Mashack cleared first. Darlinstone Dubar followed. Igor Milicic Jr. showed up for the incoming delivery.

He caught it and warmed it back to Gainey, who ran toward Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis.

“I saw my defender keep backing up and he just kept backing up,” Gainey said. “He was just dead in the water.”

Mashack dashed to the wing to Gainey’s left. Dubar cleared to the right. Cade Phillips stood at the free throw line with his arms up ready to set a screen. Everyone was in position for a potential rebound.

There would be no need.

“It’s just point guard go,” Mashack said. “When he goes downhill like that, there’s only so much you can do on your heels.”

How Jordan Gainey, Tennessee executed the game-winning play perfectly

Barnes told his team about the history of the game in the locker room Saturday. He loves the game he got from Wootten, who won 1,274 games in 46 seasons and is a rare high school coach in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wootten’s favorite game is one of Barnes’ favorite games now.

“It works,” Milicic said. “If coach Rick tells us to run it, we’re going to believe it with all our hearts. It worked.”

Gainey made Jakucionis retreat quickly when he got the ball. He juked to the right, threw off the defense and instead used a deft dribble with his left hand. He knew it was too late for a double team. He just left.

Gainey twisted his body around Jakucionis’ outstretched right arm, switched the ball to his right hand and let the ball go.

“It was like he was playing in the park,” Mashack said. “He just knew when he let it go.”

Gainey tumbled to the ground as the ball hit the backboard with one second remaining. He watched from under the rim and among the baseline photographers as the ball ran off the front of the rim, rattled around the side and slid through.

“We executed it perfectly,” Gainey said.

Tennessee practices late-game situations in every practice. The play by Wootten, who died in 2020 at the age of 88, is a regular part of the preparations. That’s why Gainey said he was ready for the moment in Illinois. His teammates ran it smoothly.

Gainey provided the decisive element, reaching back decades into Barnes’ past as he extended his right arm to win the fight.

“That play has been around for a long time,” Barnes said.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him at X @By Mike Wilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription which gives you access to it all.