Pregame Preview: Northern Kentucky (1-0) at No. 18 Tennessee (1-0)
Northern Kentucky steps into one of its biggest early season challenges this Saturday when they travel to Knoxville to take on No. 18 Tennessee at the Food City Center. The matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs and offers NKU another chance to break through with a signature win over a Power Five opponent. The Norse are coming off a record-tying 126-point performance in their opener, while the Volunteers opened their season with a 76–61 victory over Mercer on Monday night.
Tennessee enters the weekend riding momentum both on the court and across campus. With both Volunteer football and basketball teams ranked in the top 25 of their respective sports, Tennessee currently boasts the largest combined stadium capacities in college athletics, totaling 123,593, with basketball accounting for 21,678.
Head coach Rick Barnes used a deep rotation against Mercer, playing 11 players at least 10 minutes, with only two starters logging more than 20. Despite the balanced minutes, Tennessee’s play was sloppy at times, committing 19 turnovers and every starter recording at least two. Those miscues led to 16 points off turnovers for Mercer, but the Vols offset them by dominating inside, scoring 44 points in the paint while attempting just 17 three-pointers.
Even with the interior success, Barnes was far from pleased in his postgame press conference with how his frontcourt handled the ball.
“Our post players have to be stronger with the ball. You can’t put it down by your knees when you’re seven feet tall. Those turnovers are unacceptable.”
Given Tennessee’s clear size advantage, expect them to play inside out for most of the night. NKU will likely look to counter by sending double teams in the post and forcing extra turnovers, similar to Mercer’s approach. Limiting paint touches and disrupting rhythm inside will be key for the Norse to be competitive.
Last season, Tennessee started the season 14-0, lost to Florida in the SEC Tournament Championship and reached the Elite Eight before falling to Houston 69-50. This year’s group looks much different with only 22.5% of last season’s total minutes returning.
The Vols lost their top four scorers, Chaz Lanier, Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey, and Igor Miličić Jr., who were all seniors or fifth year players. Returning contributors Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips bring experience up front, but Barnes will rely heavily on a new core to push for another deep tournament run. With that context in mind, let’s take a closer look at how this Tennessee team is built and who stood out in their season opening win.
Tennessee Volunteers Scouting Report
★ Denotes Starter
★ #0 Ja’Kobi Gillespie – Senior Guard, 6'1" – Maryland / Belmont / Greeneville HS
28 MIN, 8 PTS, 3-11 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 6 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF
Ja’Kobi struggled in the win over Mercer, committing several turnovers that frustrated Rick Barnes. Many of them came on low percentage reads and he appeared susceptible to being sped up by defensive pressure, something the Norse will aim to exploit.
★ #3 Bishop Boswell – Sophomore Guard, 6'4" – Myers Park HS (N.C.)
17 MIN, 5 PTS, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, 8 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF
Bishop sets the tone for the Vols defensively and on the glass. The five points he scored on Monday were a career high for him after appearing in 28 games for Tennessee last season.
#6 DeWayne Brown II – Freshman Forward, 6'8" – Hoover HS (Ala.)
15 MIN, 6 PTS, 3-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 5 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF
A freshman who has quickly earned a spot in Barnes's rotation. He is a physical inside presence and comes in at 250 lbs. Northern Kentucky will have their hands full when he comes off the bench looking to score in the paint. He has soft touch in the paint and scored two of his three baskets on the same baseline out-of-bounds play where he sets a screen on the right wing extended and then rolls hard to the basket and gets the ball then scores in traffic.
★ #10 Nate Ament – Freshman Forward, 6'10" – Highland School (Va.)
29 MIN, 18 PTS, 6-11 FG, 1-4 3PT, 5-7 FT, 9 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF
The focal point for NKU and for every team that faces Tennessee will be slowing down freshman forward Nate Ament. The five star prospect and Preseason Second Team All SEC selection, combines his size with impressive ball handling ability, seamlessly alternating between perimeter play and scoring around the basket. His versatile offensive game makes him a potential top player in the SEC this season. Coach Rick Barnes had this to say about Ament’s near 20 point double-double debut:
“This is all new for Nate. Other than the turnovers, that’s a pretty good night. He’s trying hard defensively, and he’s a smart, mature kid.
He showed more physicality late, driving through contact. We just told him to be the player he is, don’t force it. As he gets more comfortable on the perimeter, he’s going to keep improving.”
#13 J.P. Estrella – Redshirt Sophomore Forward, 6'11" – Brewster Academy (N.H.)
20 MIN, 12 PTS, 6-10 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 5 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF
Off the bench, Estrella helped give Tennessee a lift being only one of two players that scored in double figures. At his size he can give them a reliable presence inside and do all the little things to get himself going on offense. He is not a player who is going to go 1-on-1 to get a basket, but against Mercer he was another big man who scored on a baseline out-of-bounds play and got two quick post up scores in transition to go along with two tip in baskets off of offensive rebounds.
★ #23 Jaylen Carey – Junior Forward, 6'8" – Vanderbilt / James Madison / Westminster Academy (Fla.)
16 MIN, 8 PTS, 3-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-3 FT, 10 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF
Despite starting the game, Carey only played 16 minutes, but managed to almost record a double-double. He is a big body that will be around the rim all game. The Norse will have to do everything they can to keep him off the boards and getting easy baskets.
#24 Troy Henderson – Freshman Guard, 6'1" – John Marshall HS (Va.)
12 MIN, 6 PTS, 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF
Another freshman guard that has earned minutes from this Tennessee coaching staff quickly. He is looking for opportunistic looks on the perimeter where he is the guy that gets left open. Troy has a quick trigger from three and all three of his field goal attempts were from long range.
★ #34 Felix Okpara – Senior Forward, 6'11" – Ohio State / Link Academy (Mo.)
15 MIN, 5 PTS, 2-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF
The near seven-footer plays a clear interior role, setting solid screens for Tennessee’s guards and rolling hard to the rim for lobs or dump-off passes. Offensively, he looks to establish deep post position, take one strong dribble, and finish with a hook shot. When left unguarded on the perimeter, he is also willing to take the open three. Defensively, the Vols switched frequently on ball screens against Mercer, and despite his size, Okpara handled those assignments well.
