Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team have arrived in Nashville ahead of a highly anticipated matchup against Illinois on Saturday. The primetime showdown features two top-15 teams in the nation, ensuring national attention comes Saturday night.
Some of the Tennessee players met with the media on Friday during practice, and star point guard and team leader Ja'kobi Gillespie had an eye-opening quote about the Vols' work ethic.
"Just feels like some guys are just playing and not playing with a purpose."
— Paige Dauer (@PaigeDauerFDP) December 5, 2025
JaKobi Gillispie and the #Vols look to establish its identity ahead of Top 15 match against Illinois. pic.twitter.com/D1Xp8zdEvB
Ja'Kobi Gillespie calls out Vols ahead of the Illinois game
Ja'Kobi Gillespie has been known for his veteran leadership, and it comes at a time when the Vols need it most.
Gillespie has justifiably called out his teammates' attitude and effort. Saturday night’s matchup against a talented Illinois squad will be anything but easy, and the Vols must play cohesive, focused basketball if they hope to secure a victory.
It's no surprise a team leader like Gillespie is frustrated after a two-game losing skid. The Vols dropped a close contest to Kansas last Wednesday, 81-76, and five days ago they fell to Syracuse, 62-60, in a game marked by costly turnovers.
The primary concern coming out of the Syracuse game is the unforced errors and lack of execution down the stretch. The Vols were down a bucket at halftime and saw themselves down nine points five minutes into the second half.
Rick Barnes and Tennessee basketball fans should be proud of the leader the have in Gillespie. This sets the stage for a significant bounce-back effort by the Vols on Saturday night.
I have a feeling this could spring Tennessee basketball forward and create momentum.