Tennessee basketball is coming off its first road win of the season on Saturday night at Alabama and is looking to make it two in a row as they prepare to face Georgia on Wednesday night in Athens.
Ahead of the matchup, Tennessee assistant coach Amorrow Morgan and center Felix Okpara met with the media over Zoom. The duo discussed getting over the hump at Alabama, preparing to face another high tempo team in Georgia and much more. Here’s everything the duo said.
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Amorrow Morgan
On what was different for Tennessee in the second half at Alabama, compared to some of the other road games the Vols have played this season
“I think just our staff, overall, and Coach (Rick Barnes), has just done a great job of just bringing awareness to, you know, we got to make sure that we can continue to keep focusing for 40 minutes. But we also got to compete for 40 minutes. Obviously, there’s been several games against really good programs around the country where, in the first half, we seem somewhat dominant. Even going back to the exhibition at Duke and (the game against) Illinois. We were really good, probably the better team for 25 to 30 minutes of the game. But then just losing focus.
“And just having this new group, obviously, who the fans have grown to love here over the past, those dudes had been with Coach for so long. So they understood the amount of focus that you need in order for you to win a road game. But our guys are just continuing to mature and grow up. I think that was just a huge thing for us, is that we hadn’t won a road game. And I think our focus was incredible.”
On if there were nervous moments when Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey went down with the knee injury, if the Vols avoided the worst-case scenario
“Yeah. Obviously when you see any of your guys down on the floor and grimacing, especially him, someone who’s obviously built like a tank, he has the genes, the genetics. He’s never been really one known to get hurt. This is his first time ever being out for an actual physical injury. So this is new for him as well. We were kind of optimistic just because of his build. But sometimes you just never know with those things. But we are super fired up and happy that he is okay and that he’s not going to have to miss a lot of time.”
On what JP Estrella gave Tennessee in the closing minutes at Alabama, how he builds on that performance
“Yeah, I’m sure with all of you there was some excitement when he jumped up there and grabbed some of those big, big rebounds. One of them was offensive rebound and he probably should have passed it out. But hadn’t really been in the game that much in those late-game moments. So just his competitive fire, competitive edge, and his focus, just the same. That was huge growth. And Coach has been as hard on him as he is on anybody, and our staff as well. Just trying to make sure he understands how much he can help this team take another step. And it was great for him to get the opportunity to start. And hopefully he can continue to keep building on that. And obviously his play in the first semester was incredible. Due to injury, I think that was like probably the biggest setback, just for him when he had so much momentum early. But just seeing his focus and his toughness over the course of that game, obviously it wasn’t one of his better offensive games, we would say, but I thought defensively he got out and guarded guards. When he was in some positions where he had to guard, you know (Labaron) Philon or Taylor Bol Bowen, he was able to puppies, move his feet and guard and contest without fouling, which was a huge step for him in the right direction. And just him being able to do that, get that done against such a good team, and such a good player, you can just see it on his face, man. that he gained a lot of confidence from that.”
On how important it is to dictate pace against Georgia
“It’s going to be, obviously, an emphasis. We’re always going to want to control the pace of the game, right? Like, obviously, some of our best offense is just second shot offense, or just being able to get offensive rebounds and put the ball back in. Like, if we’re able to score, obviously, that’s going to slow them down. Keeping them out of transition. And then obviously a thing that we’ve struggled with which is taking care of the ball, which we did a great job in the game against Alabama, only having 10 turnovers in that game. Just trying to make sure that we have the focus necessary to do the same. They’re going to try to press us and pressure us and trap ball screens occasionally and try to do some things to speed you up. Obviously, we’ve had some moments where, or we’ve had some games, where we hadn’t been able to really take care of the basketball. So taking care of the ball, making sure that we dominate the glass. Then making sure that we do what we do, what we execute, and that’s one thing I thought Ja’Kobi Gillespie did incredible. He did a great job against Alabama. He had a late turnover there, but just his focus and valuing the ball and trying to make sure that we got a good shot or a shot every single possession. You can just tell in the huddles, our team, our guys, they were just talking about, fellas, we got to take care of the ball. We got to take care of the ball. Knowing that that’s been somewhat of an Achilles heel for us. So as we continue to keep improving in that area, it’s going to really help us make sure that we do control the pace in tomorrow night’s game.”
On what the competition in practice looks like as it comes to the four-spot, who starts there
“Coach is very open and very truthful with our guys, so they know where they stand. Coach watches practice probably three times over before we show up the next day. And same for the games and same with our staff. So there’s not much that he’s getting by. I mean, that those guys are getting by them. So in film sessions, he’s very honest when they’re not taking advantage or they’re relaxing or not focusing the last 20 minutes of practice. He’s holding that against them. Because you got to be able to compete for the entirety of practice, just the same as you have to be able to compete for the entirety of the game. So when he announces the starter, I think they’re all, I think everyone in the room is pretty understanding and they probably, at that point, know just from what someone has done that we can practice. But our guys compete every day. Coach is one of the best, if not the best demander, in all of college sports. And it’s not going to be a day where those guys can come in and just not want to compete, not give their best effort because if they don’t, then they’re going to hear about it. And they know that. And that’s why many of the former players love him, and that’s why our players today love him because they know that he’s going to bring the absolute best out of them, even when they’re not at their best. So practices are extremely competitive, like extremely competitive at that position, in every position, so as you can see, Ethan Burg had an opportunity to play. A couple games ago, Troy was out there on the floor, and that’s all because of that level of competition in practice that week.”
On what Tennessee is looking for in that third guard spot behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Bishop Boswell
“Yeah, just someone (who) is willing to do exactly what Coach is asking them to do in practice, and asking them to do on film. Someone that’s going to execute offensively, that’s not gonna try to do too much. That’s gonna try to take the opportunities that are presented, be aggressive, believe in themselves, but, you know, do exactly what Coach is asking of them in practice. And, you know, usually the one that, the people who play the most that week in those positions, are those guys that have shown that over time.
“That’s one thing Amari Evans has done. Pretty consistent, and we talked about Amari Evans as in, like, even when we were playing, you know, the Mercers, and even when we were playing the Tennessee States. When he got in for 30 seconds, or 45 seconds at the end of the game, or a minute and a half, the end of the game, he wasn’t one of the guys that was just, first time he caught the ball, was trying to shoot it, right? Like there’s many times we saw him catch the ball, drive the ball in the paint, spray the ball out to a teammate, and get them a wide open shot. I think that’s what’s going to make him special, is that he’s able to execute even in those moments. That’s the maturity that he’s had. So he’s been pretty consistent. We know when he gets in the game, we know what he’s gonna do. We know what he’s gonna bring. We know he’s gonna compete. We know he’s smart enough to be in the right spots offensively and defensively. So just by doing those things alone, his minutes are gonna continue to keep increasing.”
On coaching Georgia guard Jeremiah Wilkinson at Cal last season, what areas he’s seen him prove this season
“Efficiency. I think, you know, everyone can see that just by looking at the numbers and analytics. He’s always been a really good shooter, but just, you know, taking better shots. So, you know, I would say that’s a big area that he’s really, really improved. That’s my guy. I got a great relationship with him. You know, he’ll reach out to me even when he probably shouldn’t. He’ll reach out to me every now and then and try to, like, make jokes about what he’s gonna do or whatever it might be. So our guys will be ready for him. So it’ll be fun to be able to compete against him for sure.”
On if it’s tough watching film of Wilkinson and not being on the same team:
“No, it’s what the game is these days. Just with the transfer portal. Like I know, Alex (Schwartz) made a joke that, you know, we played against somebody I coached every month. So with me having been at different spots, it’s kind of what goes on in the profession now. If someone feels that there’s a better opportunity elsewhere, they’re looking for a different home, and with they’re being said, you know, you end up playing against somebody that you do love, but at the at the same time, when you’re competing and you’re in between those lines, we’re all trying to win.”
On what the extra day of rest means for Tennessee after the game against Georgia was moved from Tuesday to Wednesday
“Yeah, I think the extra day is always a positive. It could be a positive, either way. For them or for us, but for us, it gave us another day of rest, which was great. Especially with Jaylen (Carey) and what happened with him, but then on top of that, it gave us another day to prepare. And obviously, if you give Coach Barnes a little bit more time to do so, you know, we’ll be ready to go for sure.”
Felix Okpara
On what he has seen from the competition at the four spot between Jaylen Carey, DeWayne Brown and J.P. Estrella
“I think it just (comes down) to consistency. The guy who brings it every day in practice, and I think that’s what Coach is looking for, too.”
On what he thinks makes himself and J.P. Estrella a good tandem in the frontcourt
“I would just say we’re just bigger bodies. And, you know, we crash the glass really good. And I think me playing alongside with J.P, the other team has to worry about, you know, pretty much boxing us out every play.”
On how big the Alabama game was for J.P. Estrella
“It was really good. Coach has been challenging J.P., so we’ve been challenging him. We need him. This team needs him. I think he showed up and grabbed really key rebounds in the game. I think if he does that every night, we’re going to be good.”
On what’s going to be key for Tennessee’s frontcourt if Jaylen Carey isn’t able to play because of injury
“We definitely want Jaylen to play, but, you know, if he can’t go, we definitely understand. I think, for us, it’s the same mindset we go into every game with. We just play hard, rebound, just play our role.”
On what was different for Tennessee in the second half at Alabama compared to other games they’ve struggled to finish this season
“We made an emphasis coming out. At halftime, like, we (knew we had) to have a good start to the second half, and we need to finish games. Also, Coach made an emphasis (that) we got to play a full 40-minute game. I feel like in the past few games, we’ve just been playing hard for like, 30 minutes or 35 minutes, and the other five or 10 minutes, we just kind of laid down. I think we competed for 40 minutes, and that was a big difference.”
On what stands out about Georgia, if their pace reminds him of anyone
“I would say, yeah, I mean, I feel like they play a little bit more like Alabama. They want to play fast. I think they rank in the country in pace, and how fast the score. And I think they also have really good guards. Good bigs. I think it’s going to be key for us to turn down transition points and make them play in a half court.”
On what’s different for him this season as a leader
“Different, I would say, like you said, I’m pretty much the only guy who was here last year. Still in the starting lineup. I think that’s the big difference. I feel like last year, we had all the guys who’d been there a couple years. Zakai, Shack (Jahmai Mashack) Jordan Gainey and I think that’s the biggest difference this year. We have this team is a whole different team with news guys. And also new guys playing for coach. I think this year, it took us a while to click together, but I think we coming along and just knowing where certain guys like the ball and certain guys like to be at, I think we’re making good progress and every day in practice, we take a step by step.”
On how they push JP Estrella
“We just, accountability. We just hold him accountable to everything he does. We know he can be better. We’ve seen JP play better, play good, play strong, play aggressive, and we push him every day. Like I said, it starts in practice. We go hard in practice, and in games, you just tell them to do the same thing.”
On Georgia center’s Somto Cyril’s growth
“Somto is a very very good player. Good shot blocker, good rebounder. I think this year, he’s just getting more opportunities this year and he has good guards to play with him this year. And also, I think for us coming to this game. We just got to limit the amount of points and touches he gets and also just keep him off the offensive glass.”
