After a pair of spectacular wins within the Gamers Period males’s championship, No. 17 Tennessee makes the journey to upstate New York to satisfy Syracuse within the ACC/SEC Problem on Tuesday.
The Volunteers demolished Rutgers and took down No. 3 Houston of their second recreation in Las Vegas earlier than being knocked off by Kansas 81-76 within the third-place recreation, shedding a 12-point lead within the course of.
“The blokes that wish to be taught from it will do it,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes stated to the Rocky High Insider after the loss. “And so they’ll get higher and transfer ahead, however it’s not going to get any simpler, which is the best way it must be.
“However too many scouting report breakdowns, issues we had talked about. Once more, you may discuss we solely had a day, however we have sufficient guys that may perceive that. However (Kansas) deserved to win the sport as a result of on the finish, they did what they wanted to get carried out and we did not.”
Tennessee freshman ahead Nate Ament, who scored 20 factors within the loss to the Jayhawks, has been averaging 17.9 factors a recreation for the primary eight (all begins).
The Vols (7-1) have been guided by the play of senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
A local of Greenville, Tenn., Gillespie transferred house after a yr at Maryland and is scoring a team-high 18.5 factors and capturing 35.3% from 3-point vary.
“We will not get the place we’re placing every little thing on him,” Barnes stated. “A few of these different pictures that you have to provide you with or get fouled once you’re actually struggling from the three. However you take a look at the stat sheet, too many guys, actually, did not do the issues that they should do to assist us win.”
Syracuse (4-3) additionally was in Las Vegas however got here again empty towards Houston, Kansas and Iowa State. The Orange misplaced all three video games on the Gamers Period event, together with a 31-point setback to No. 15 Iowa State on the final day final Wednesday.
“We’re very upset that we could not get the outcomes that we wished,” Syracuse coach Adrian Autry stated. “However in at present’s recreation, in your nonconference, you have to put your self in place. The final 20 minutes is just not who we’re.”
There was dangerous information for the Orange after they arrived in Las Vegas. Sophomore ahead Donnie Freeman, the group’s main scorer at 17.8 factors a recreation, confirmed up in a strolling boot and didn’t play in any of the contests in Las Vegas. Autry has been coy about his standing shifting ahead.
Freeman suffered a Jones fracture within the fifth metatarsal of his proper foot throughout his freshman season and it will definitely required surgical procedure. A Syracuse spokesman stated that the 2 accidents should not associated.
Freshman guard Kiyan Anthony, son of former Syracuse nice and Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame Class of 2025 inductee Carmelo Anthony, has tried to select up the scoring slack. Kiyan Anthony averages 11.9 factors over seven video games (two begins), however he was held to 24 complete in three contests in Las Vegas.
Tennessee would be the third ranked opponent Syracuse has confronted this season. The Vols are averaging 85.9 factors whereas permitting 65.4 per recreation this season. The Orange are averaging 74.9 factors whereas yielding 65.3 per recreation.
–Subject Stage Media
