Hey y’all! Tennessee basketball recently had a practice open to the media, and I’ve got all the juicy details for you. Let’s dive in!
First off, Zakai Zeigler is back in action after recovering from a serious knee injury. He’s looking good and showing no signs of slowing down. Although he didn’t start the scrimmage, Zeigler played well and didn’t disappoint.
The team is looking pretty healthy overall, with all scholarship players participating in practice. It’s great to see everyone back on the court.
Now, let’s talk about Dalton Knecht. Coach Rick Barnes wasn’t too happy with Knecht’s defensive effort and movement off the ball. He’s got some work to do, especially on the defensive end. Hopefully, he can improve before the season starts.
On the other hand, shooting guard Jordan Gainey has been impressing everyone. He’s great at creating offense and driving to the basket. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a key player for the team.
Freddie Dilione and Santiago Vescovi did their thing on the court. Dilione showed off his playmaking skills, while Vescovi made some impressive shots from the perimeter.
Moving on to the front court, the freshman big men, Cade Phillips and JP Estrella, caught my attention. Phillips may not be the most polished offensive player, but he’s got some moves and can drive to the basket. Estrella held his own down low and showed some nice touch around the rim. These guys have potential.
Tobe Awaka has been developing well and has a sneaky ability to drive to the basket and score. He’s a rebounding machine and creates scoring opportunities for himself. The big question is his defensive ability, but he didn’t make any major mistakes during practice.
Jonas Aidoo is looking solid defensively, but he still needs to work on his offensive game. With Tennessee lacking post depth, Aidoo’s defensive skills will be crucial.
Now, let’s talk about the team’s playing style. Tennessee has been emphasizing playing faster, but we’ll have to wait and see if it translates to the actual games. They’ve been practicing with a 15-second shot clock, so they’re definitely working on attacking quickly.
Alright, enough with the notes and observations. Let’s get to the scrimmage highlights!
The grey team came out on top with a 42-37 victory over the orange team. Santiago Vescovi led the grey team with 9 points, while Jordan Gainey was the top scorer for the orange team with 11 points.
That’s a wrap on the practice session. It’s exciting to see the team in action and getting ready for the upcoming season. Go Vols!