The Tennessee basketball team is now on a three-game win streak after picking up a nice home win over Oklahoma, 89- 66. This was a potential trap game for Tennessee, so credit to Rick Barnes and the Vols for coming prepared for the matchup on Wednesday night, with the rivalry game against Vanderbilt coming up on Saturday. The Vols got off to a hot start, but we saw them relapse into their old ways, slowly giving up a big lead heading into the second half.
18-point lead that was cut down to six at the under-eight-minute timeout. The Vols did a great job all night, rebounding and establishing a presence down low despite JP Estrella being out. With 18 points from Felix Okpara, 7 from Jaylen Carey, and 13 from DeWayne Brown II, the Vols showed they had a plan to get the ball in the low-post, and they absolutely controlled the game down low.
Big-time players made big-time plays for the Vols
Nate Ament was the star of the show for the Vol once again. At this point, it’s no surprise that Nate Ament put the team on his back once again and let the offense run through him. His emergence since SEC play began has been nothing short of remarkable. Down the stretch, Tennessee can lean on the freshman forward to step up and get a key bucket or two. He finished the night with 29 points and six rebounds.
Veteran point guard Ja'Kobi Gillepsie had one of his best games as a Vol as well. Gillespie had eight steals in the win and added 16 points and eight assists. His impact on both ends of the floor was crucial to the victory, and his growth, much like Ament’s, has been undeniable. With this version of Gillespie, the Vols have the kind of leader who can carry them deep into March.
The Vols' attention now turns to Saturday afternoon and the biggest test of the season: Vanderbilt. Expect a battle from start to finish, and expect Vols fans to be fully invested in every second of it. After winning three of the last four over Vandy, Rick Barnes has to make sure this group is locked in because the Commodores will come in with something to prove and plenty of incentive to make a statement.