LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was just 90 seconds into Tennessee basketball’s 77-55 win at Louisville when Chaz Lanier dribbled down the lane and attempted a left-handed dunk with authority. Lanier didn’t finish the dunk but drew a foul and hit both free throws. The play sent a message.
“I thought the play (of) the game for him and his teammates was when he went in early and tried to dunk the ball left-handed,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said.
Barnes challenged Lanier in a big way throughout Tennessee’s Friday practice but particularly to end practice when Tennessee kept running the same play over-and-over again before Lanier got down hill on a drive and finished at the basket.
“I feel like that kind of set the tone for the game. Like, we’re here,” Lanier said. “At the end of practice … it was like 10 plays straight where he wanted me to go drive the ball and dunk it. I kind of did it to prove it to him as well. It was a good feeling.”
Neither Lanier nor Tennessee starting power forward Igor Milicic Jr had played in big time games like the Vols played at Louisville on Saturday. Both of them, but particularly Lanier, answered the bell in the lopsided win.
Lanier started fast, scoring six of Tennessee’s first eight points before finishing tied for a game-high 19 points. The North Florida transfer shooting guard was efficient scoring too. He made seven-of-15 shots from the field and displayed his elite shooting ability by knocking down three-of-six attempts from three-point range.
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“Chaz is (a) pretty cool guy, calm guy,” Barnes said. “You guys watch practice. I mean, he is the main target for me pretty much every day because I see what he can be. I would say Igor, too.”
Indeed, Barnes got after Milicic just like he did Lanier during Friday’s practice. The Charlotte transfer picked up two quick fouls that limited him to just 12 minutes of playing time. But when he was on the court, Milicic performed the way Tennessee needs him too.
The 6-foot-10 forward totaled seven points on three-of-four shooting from the field while grabbing two rebounds. Milicic hit a big three-pointer early in the second half when Tennessee’s offense was scuffling and also showed his ability to put the ball on the floor and score at the basket.
“I thought his three was a big play,” Barnes said. “It came in the flow. He’s a guy that we know can shoot the ball. I mean, he’s got a history of being a 38, 39 percent three-point shooter. Got in foul trouble early. Would have played more, obviously, than he did tonight.”
Ohio State center transfer Felix Okpara isn’t quite in the same spot as Lanier or Milicic because he’s played in big time games the last two years with the Buckeyes. But after a rough first half, Okpara turned in a strong second half to finish the game with 10 points and six rebounds.
Tennessee needs all its transfers to be strong contributors this season. In the Vols’ first big game of the season, Lanier and Milicic stepped up despite being in a new role.
“We’re proud of both of those guys,” Barnes said. “They know that they’re important. We need them to grow quicker maybe than they might want to, but I can tell you they both care a lot. They really care about their teammates. They both care about the game.”
