Tennessee basketball has a completely new look team this season, returning just four scholarship players from last year’s team. The Vols have used different ways to restock their roster, adding players from the transfer portal, the prep ranks and internationally.
At SEC Media Days two weeks ago in Birmingham, we asked the Vols’ three representatives rapid fire questions about their game and this year’s Tennessee basketball team. Here’s what they had to say about the season, their teammates and Rick Barnes.
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Favorite game last year?
Felix Okpara: “Florida game at home.”
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (at Maryland): “I would have to say when we went into Michigan when they were ranked and we won on the road. That was a really fun game.”
Cade Phillips: “Sweet 16 against Kentucky.”
Biggest area of focus in your game this offseason?
Okpara: “Just being a better scorer. Being a good rebounder— a great rebounder.”
Gillespie: “I would say just being a more vocal leader and learning to kind of play with my teammates a little more. I can obviously score so just trying to learn how to get guys involved more.”
Phillips: “Continue to get better. Take it one day at a time. As much basketball wise as I’ve proved this offseason, whether it’s shooting, playing outside, playing inside, playing anything. I think the more important thing for me this offseason was stepping into a leadership role that I had seen teammates do since I’ve been here. I’ve been the young guy on every team I’ve been on up until now. So now it’s been fun to step into a role of it’s time to step up and be one of the guys.”
Best shooter on the team?
Okpara: “Ja’Kobi”
Gillespie: “Not me? I would probably go with Troy (Henderson).”
Phillips: “Most people say Ja’Kobi. I’m going to say a hot take and say Troy Henderson. … Ja’Kobi is the easy pick. I’m playing devil’s advocate.”
Best defender on the team?
Okpara: “Can’t say myself? Amari Evans.”
Gillespie: “I would say Felix.”
Phillips: “Can’t pick myself? Felix Okpara. Blockpara.”
Funniest player on the team?
Okpara: “I can’t say myself? All our guys are funny. I would say JP (Estrella).”
Gillespie: “Mo (Amaree Abrams) for sure.”
Phillips: “Mo. Amaree Abrams. … Mo just has a big personality and never takes a single moment of life serious. It’s the best thing ever. It lightens everybody’s mood.”
Favorite away arena?
*In Gillespie’s case, the question was “what arena are you most looking forward to playing in?”
Okpara: “I would say Kentucky. Just because of the rivalry.”
Gillespie: “Ours. Besides ours, probably Kentucky because it’s really well known.”
Phillips: “I love every away game. You spend so much time with your teammates. Opposing fans. I look forward to road trips. I don’t know how to pick that because I’ve played in so many different (arenas). Even year to year it is different. I don’t know. I enjoy all the away games.”
Favorite Rick Barnes saying?
Okpara: “He always says ‘I’m curious’ when we’re watching film. He’ll be like, ‘I’m curious. What are you doing over here. And keep on saying the same word over and over again.”
Gillespie: “Probably when he just yells ‘Go!’ He’s telling us to go to the VersaClimber.”
Phillips: “I would say when he calls you a box of cracker jacks. … It means, because we’ve asked him that, it means— back in the day a box of cracker jacks came with a little toy in them. It was always something different. So you never know what you’re getting with a box of cracker jacks. It’s a consistency thing. So that’s one that I think of.”
