Talk about having a brilliant day at the office. On Friday, Tennessee star Ja'Kobi Gillespie decided that it was time to put this team on his BACK. That's right, the Vols took down Miami (Ohio) in dominant fashion, ending the Redhawks' season with a 78-56 win.
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In the victory, Gillespie, a first-year Tennessee standout after transferring in, scored a game-high 29 points. He caught fire, with the Miami (Ohio) defense having no answers in trying to contain him. As you might have been able to guess, the sharpshooter was jacked up after his performance. More importantly, he was also glad his team was able to come out on top.
“I knew I was feeling it tonight and my teammates kept finding me,” Gillespie said right after the win. “This is a blessing and it’s just a dream come true to be in this spot and where I am right now and to be playing with all of my teammates.”
Ja'Kobi Gillespie was incredibly humble after his huge game for Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament
That's exactly the kind of mentality you'd expect from a veteran leader. Gillespie caught fire and he finished the contest connecting on 11-of-21 shot attempts, including going 6-of-11 from downtown. It felt like whenever the Vols needed someone to deliver, he was there to answer the call.
Gillespie's big-time showing ended up being massive, as 5-star freshman Nate Ament was not himself. The youngster is playing banged up, still working his way back from ankle and knee issues. It's admirable that Ament is fighting through the pain, but he's nowhere near 100 percent.
With Virginia up next for Tennessee and head man Rick Barnes, the hope is that Ament can inch closer to full health, while the Vols will also be relying on Gillespie to play at a brilliant level once again. The Cavs are the early favorites for that second-round meeting, but UT could care less about that. Nope, this group will be motivated to post an upset and Gillespie will be hungry to help the Vols post another memorable win.