Tennessee forward Braedan Lue met with the media for his first formal media availability last Thursday following the Vols’ practice open to the media.
A Kennesaw State transfer, Lue averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 block per game for the Owls a season ago. The 6-foot-9 forward will likely bring the Vols defensive versatility and size off the bench.
Meeting with the media, Lue discussed his first few weeks at Tennessee, the development inside the Vols’ program and much more. Here’s everything Lue said.
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On what stands out about Tennessee’s team after a month of practice
“Probably all the hard work we’ve put in in practice. When I came here, I knew it was gonna be tough in. It’s been living up to that. I’ve been getting better every day and it’s just playing against all the good competition out there.”
On why he wanted to come to Tennessee
“I came here to get better. When I came on my visit. The staff and Coach Barnes, they just showed me how they can get me better and how they always win and stuff like that, and I just came here to impact that.”
On the difficulty of Tennessee’s summer practices
“When I came here, I knew it was going to be hard, and I just got to keep training my mind. Keep going hard every day, getting better. Which y’all can’t expect from my team is that we’re going to always go hard no matter how the game’s going or whatever, we’re just going to keep playing hard and trusting our work that we’ve put in at practice everyday.”
On learning from DeWayne Brown, his experience in the program
“Just to keep going hard no matter what. Every time we have questions or one of the coaches on staff doesn’t explain something good we just go to DB and he’ll help us get through it or coach us through it. He’s been a good leader.”
On how he would describe the front court
“I’d say we compete, we play hard. People might say we were are undersized or whatever, but I feel like the way we keep playing hard and stuff like that, that’s going to lead us through everything, no matter what.”
On Miles Rubin having two impressive dunks in practice, if he’s always like that
“Yeah, from what I’ve seen from him, his film, yessir. All the practices we’ve had so far, he has some pretty good slams too. I keep seeing those from him.”
On where he gets his defensive intensity, who he models his game after
“I wouldn’t say I model my game after anybody, for real. But I think why I keep attention together for defense and stuff like that just because I feel like that’s what I need to do in order to get on the court and just have a good career.”
On what it’s been like playing with Tennessee’s backcourt
“It’s been fun. They can get you the ball in ways you wouldn’t even have thought of, the way that they shoot the ball just opens up the court. The way they make reads off the pick and roll. I just think we’re going to have a good season with all that together.”
On seeing three Tennessee players get selected in the NBA Draft
“Seeing that,, it puts a good thought in my head. That’s one of the reasons why I came here is because Coach Barnes, he’s good with developing players and stuff like that, and I was just hoping to be one of those players that he makes to league.”
On how he would describe the first practices under Coach Barnes
“I would say it’s fun, tough, man. Yeah, everything I’ve been looking for real. All the aspects of my game that I need to get better at is happening here.”
On what stands out about Miles Rubin
“His motor. He always keeps going no matter what. He blocks shots and moves around all over the court. So, yeah, I would say his defensive energy that sticks out to me the most. And I can’t wait to hop on the court with him.”
