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There was no lack of focus for Tennessee basketball of their last recreation earlier than Christmas. In the future after three ranked groups misplaced to unranked groups, the Vols got here out and rebounded from their robust loss on the Arizona Wildcats Saturday by dominating in entrance of their dwelling crowd.
UT, ranked No. 8 within the AP Ballot and No. 11 within the Coaches Ballot, blew out the Austin Peay Governors 86-44. Rick Barnes’ workforce went on an 18-0 run after the rating was tied at 2-2 and by no means seemed again. They received the primary half by 30 and continued their dominance within the second half.
With the win, the Vols enhance to 10-2 and can start SEC play in per week at dwelling in opposition to the Ole Miss Rebels. Austin Peay falls to 6-7 and begins ASUN play per week from Thursday on the Queen Royals. Listed here are three issues we discovered from Tennessee basketball’s victory.
1. Submit recreation was unstoppable.
It ought to have been given the Vols’ measurement benefit and the truth that Austin Peay was lacking some folks, and it was. UT made probably the most of their dominance down low. The Vols outrebounded Austin Peay 47-26. Starring for them was Olivier Nkamhoua, who led the workforce with 20 factors. Nkamhoua additionally had 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Uros Plavsic had six factors, three assists and three boards. Off the bench, Tobe Awaka had 11 boards, and Jonas Aidoo had 10 factors and 9 boards. Jahmai Mashack had 5 factors, 5 assists and 5 boards. Dominant put up play is why Nkamhoua and Mashack every had 5 dishes, as did Santiago Vescovi and Tyreke Key. The workforce had 27 as a complete.
2. Santiago Vescovi’s shot returned.
He had been in a droop for some time, however Tennessee basketball lastly acquired what it has been ready for from Santiago Vescovi Wednesday night time. The Vols have been 8-of-18 from three as a workforce, however that’s as a result of Vescovi was an ideal 5-of-5 en path to 18 factors on the night time.
Vescovi did miss one free throw, however exterior of that, he was practically good. Key helped by going 2-of-5 from three and scoring eight factors, however Vescovi was the star within the backcourt, particularly with Zakai Zeigler, who had three assists, having an off-night. With Josiah-Jordan James nonetheless out, Vescovi needed to step up, and he did.
3. Protection continues to dominate.
Submit play and capturing can lead the offense, however protection continues to be the story of the Vols. In that 20-2 begin, Austin Peay’s solely factors have been free throws. They didn’t hit their first area objective till lower than 12 minutes to go within the first half, and Rocky Prime stored the strain on them all through the sport.
Vescovi had three steals. Mashack had three off the bench. Nkamhoua had two. He didn’t shoot properly, however Zeigler had a steal and a block within the recreation. Aidoo had certainly one of every as properly, and Julian Phillips, who had 9 factors and 5 rebounds, additionally had a block. Merely put, Tennessee basketball received with protection.
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