Tennessee basketball took the court for the first time publicly ahead of the 2024-25 season on Sunday evening, falling to Indiana 66-62 in a charity exhibition game.
The Vols’ offense struggled badly, coming out ice cold before a mid game run proved short lived. Here’s three quick takeaways on the game including thoughts on the transfers and rotations.
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Tennessee’s Offense Struggles In First Game Post Dalton Knecht
Tennessee’s offense in its first game post Dalton Knecht inspired very little confidence. The Vols are banking on their team shooting to help offset the massive loss Knecht presented. That didn’t come to fruition in the exhibition game.
The Vols started by missing their first five three-pointers and making just one of their first 14 triples. Tennessee simply could not get shots to go down. Despite a hot start offensively and from the perimeter to start the second half, the Vols finished the game eight-of-35 (23%) from three-point range.
There were certainly some forced shots in the mix but also a number of wide open shots that Tennessee was unable to get to go.
Tennessee’s poor three-point shooting was disappointing but its inability to create good looks at the rim was more worrisome. The Vols put very little pressure on the basket and when the did it didn’t often result in points.
Perhaps the most fitting stretch of the game came when Cade Phillips blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and took it coast-to-coast before missing a layup. Then on the next possession Zeigler threw a half court alley oop to Phillips and the sophomore big man couldn’t finish.
Tennessee finished the game just six-of-13 on shots at the rim and didn’t answer any questions about who on its roster was going to be able to put pressure on the rim.
Mixed Bad For Tennessee’s Transfers
Tennessee’s leaning on a number of incoming transfers this season and the Indiana game was their first game like action and the results were mixed
Chaz Lanier came in the game and immediately knocked down a contested triple but he struggled following that main shot. The North Florida transfer made just three-of-16 shots from the field and two-of-12 three-pointers while scoring 10 points.
Both the number of shots that Lanier took and his percentage was surprising. However, there’s large enough a sample size to believe that he’s going to shoot the ball much better from the perimeter the rest of the way.
There was plenty to like about Ohio State center transfer Felix Okpara who had the most difficult task of the afternoon, battling with Indiana star center Oumar Ballo. Okpara held his own in the matchup scoring seven points while grabbing six rebounds and blocking four shots. The Ohio State transfer played well on the defensive end while Ballo totaled six points and 11 rebounds.
Okpara did a pretty good job of avoiding foul trouble but also could have been more effective on the glass.
Igor Milicic was less active on the offensive end but was efficient when the game came to him, scoring eight points while also impressing on the glass with eight rebounds.
Darlinstone Dubar looked a lot like he has when the media watches practice, that’s to say that it’s very easy to forget he’s out there. The only stats he recorded were two fouls and a missed shot.
Thoughts On Minutes And Rotations
Tennessee played every single one of its scholarship players in this game with freshman Bishop Boswell playing the least at xx minutes.
But the number of minutes played were still telling in this one. Let’s start where we left off last section with Darlinstone Dubar playing just three minutes. Sophomore Cade Phillips appears to be at least slightly ahead of the transfer in the rotation at power forward, playing eight minutes. But Igor Milicic is going to be the main player at the power forward spot this season. He played 20 minutes and showed he can hold up physically.
Phillips playing was really the only time we ever saw any true two-big lineups. JP Estrella and Okpara never played together.
On the wing, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey are the clear top guys. Tennessee was willing to play Gainey and Lanier together a good bit. That is a bit of a concern defensively but Tennessee was willing to play that lineup. Cam Carr was way behind that group, playing just 10 minutes.
We already knew that Zakai Zeigler was going to have a massive workload this season but that fat was echoed in this game. Tennessee tried to play with Zeigler in a stretch in the second half, it was the worst the offense looked all game and Indiana went on a run to take the lead.
Lastly, Tennessee closed the game with the same lineup it started with— Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack, Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara.
Final Stats
Up Next
Tennessee opens up the regular season in eight days when it hosts Gardner Webb on Monday, Nov. 3 in Knoxville. Tipoff at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is at 7 p.m. ET. The SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
