Scoring over 100 points while shooting just 5-of-14 from three with one of your potential elite scorers out would suggest that you have an offense capable of dominating in a variety of ways. That’s what Tennessee basketball did Sunday afternoon as the Vols beat the Austin Peay Governors 103-68.
However, Rick Barnes just relied on a major advantage he won’t have in SEC play.
The Vols went down low all game and simply cashed in on Austin Peay’s lack of size. Igor Milicic Jr. was the star, scoring 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting, all but one shot taken in the paint. Felix Okpara stepped up as well, scoring 12 points and going 6-of-10 in the paint. Then came Cade Phillips off the bench, and he added 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, all down low.
Sorry, but that’s not impressive. Austin Peay’s tallest player is 6’8″. Of course the Vols are going to have the advantage in the post, and while Milicic and Okpara will be advantages in SEC play as well, they won’t be able to assert this level of dominance. The Vols outrebounded APSU 43-25 after all.
What’s really important for UT is to be able to generate points from its guards when they aren’t shooting well. Barnes didn’t have to and didn’t try to manufacture that in this game, but it does leave open some questions about the program going forward. After all, Chaz Lanier, their go-to scorer, had just five points.
Then there’s the defense. The Vols gave up 68 points, and APSU was just 10-of-33 from outside, so they were good, but it’s not like they just had some red-hot shooting game. Barnes’ team was just lackadaisical, and while not manufacturing backcourt points is an issue of his, this is not.
Taking all this into account, there are some valid reasons for concern after this dominant win.
Now, again, we have to insist that Darlinstone Dubar is out. He is an elite scorer on the wing and will provide great value going forward. Meanwhile, J.P. Estrella is still getting healthy, which would have provided another post option for the Vols in this game. He didn’t play.
Most importantly, though, is it’s not like certain backcourt players didn’t have an impact. Zakai Zeigler scored 19 points and dished out nine assists going 3-of-4 from the outside. Jahmai Mashack added 10 points. Jordan Gainey added 15 off the bench by getting to the free throw line.
Simply put, there’s still plenty to like about this team, and with those facts, the backcourt scoring can’t be a concern until Dubar returns. It was a question after this game, though, and the defense will remain a concern until they start holding these teams below 50 points.
Now at 4-0, the Vols, ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll, will travel to the Bahamas to face the Virginia Cavaliers Thursday in the Continental Tire Baha Mar Championship. They will then face the winner between the Baylor Bears and St. John’s Red Storm Friday. APSU falls to 3-1 and will next visit the Morehead State Eagles Wednesday.
