Tennessee basketball was at full strength for the first time in multiple weeks on Monday when they dismantled Rutgers 85-60 in the opening game at the Players Era Festival. The Vols got both shooting guard Bishop Boswell and forward JP Estrella back from injury,
Here’s what Rick Barnes said about the duo’s return and how they performed against Rutgers.
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The Duos Return Was Somewhat Surprising
Meeting with the media on Sunday afternoon, Barnes said that he didn’t expect Estrella to play the entire tournament while saying that Boswell could potentially return after missing the Vols’ last three games. That changed later in the day after Tennessee’s practice.
“Coming out here we didn’t know if they were gonna play,” Barnes said. “We really didn’t. They both have done a great job of the rehab, spending time with Chad (Newman) and G(arrett Medenwald), and just really working at trying to get back. But when we walked into practice yesterday, they were both saying they were gonna try a little bit.”
Barnes noted that they will have to play it safe with both players minutes as Tennessee plays three games in three days. But getting them back at the start of a challenging six-game stretch is a real positive.
Bishop Boswell’s Defense Impacted The Game
Boswell first checked in the game with 13:26 remaining in the first quarter. It took no time before he was diving on the ground. The sophomore shooting guard took two shots and scored two points but made a major impact on the game. That started on the defensive end of the court.
“You can see, sometimes we’re a whole different team with him on the floor,” Nate Ament said of Boswell. “His defense and energy is just so contagious. I know I feel more confident and more enthusiastic when he’s on the floor in a defensive way. Having him there and to be an anchor on defense builds our confidence through the roof.”
Boswell’s intensity was critical for Tennessee’s defensive effort. He also made a number of good offensive decisions, finishing the game with five assists, three steals and three rebounds. Boswell did all the things that make him a valuable piece for the Vols.
JP Estrella Brings Tennessee An Offensive Punch
Estrella was on a minutes restriction and played just 10 minutes against Rutgers. The sophomore big man showed the offensive ability he’s become known for, scoring 10 points on three-of-four shooting from the field while making all four of his field goal attempts.
Estrella also grabbed two rebounds and took a couple tough falls and a forearm to the face. He did not play in the game’s final 10 minutes. It will be interesting to see if Tennessee increases his minutes any tomorrow against Houston.
