Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee basketball faced its first true tests of the regular season this week in Las Vegas at the Players Era Festival. The Vols went 2-1 at the event, taking down Rutgers and Houston before dropping their first game of the event against Kansas.
Here’s four things we learned about Tennessee basketball in its three games at the Players Era Festival.
Bishop Boswell Is Tennessee’s Best Two Guard Option
Bishop Boswell started Tennessee’s first two games of the season before missing the three games before Players Era due to injury. Boswell played well in the first two games of the season but it didn’t feel like he had cemented himself as Tennessee’s top shooting guard.
Boswell did just that in Las Vegas. The sophomore guard was stellar in all three games but particularly in the win over Houston and loss against Kansas. He’s clearly Tennessee’s best perimeter defender and he consistently made plays on that end of the court, recording three steals in all three games.
The 6-foot-3 guard made an impact in other ways too. He was a good offensive player, getting out and scoring in transition and picking his spots in the half court. Boswell also facilitated well, recording 12 total assists in the three games.
The week in Las Vegas felt like Boswell’s coming out party. He asserted himself as not only Tennessee’s best two guard option but as a good two-guard option.
Tennessee’s Defense Isn’t Where It Needs To Be
One question lurking in the shadows in the preseason and in Tennessee’s five buy games to begin the season was how good the Vols are on the defensive end. The Vols ranked third in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency entering the week but that was largely based on preseason expectations created by past teams.
Tennessee’s win over Houston and loss against Kansas showed that the Vols aren’t where they need to be yet. There were flashes, most notably the seven minute scoring drought that they forced against Houston which helped them flip the game.
But as a whole, Tennessee had issues defensively in Las Vegas. Even with Boswell’s emergence, the Vols struggled to stay in front of opposing guards off the bounce. Tennessee fell from No. 3 to No. 12 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
None of that means that Tennessee is incapable of again being a top five defense. Simply that they’re not there yet.
More From RTI: Tennessee ‘Absolutely’ Let Offensive Struggles Affect Defense In Loss Against Kansas
The Vols’ Front Court Is A Serious Strength
Tennessee’s front court looked like a serious strength entering Players Era. They played like it in Las Vegas. The Vols showed that they could rebound at a strong rate against bigger competition and two of the best rebounding teams in the country.
They were also productive and efficient on the offensive end of the court. The quartet of Felix Okpara, Jaylen Carey, JP Estrella and Cade Phillips combined for 64 points on 25-of-41 shooting from the field in the Houston and Kansas games.
Carey, in particular, was stellar. The Vanderbilt transfer was one of Tennessee’s best players in both the Houston and Kansas games with what he did rebounding, scoring and facilitating. Boswell is the only Vol who improved his stock more than Carey in Las Vegas.
I’m not sure Tennessee has the star power to truly be one of the two or three best front courts in the country. But the Vols front line proved that their early season success was no fluke.
There’s Going To Be An Adjustment Period For Nate Ament
Nate Ament struggled against Houston, making just one field goal attempt while battling foul trouble throughout the game. He overall responded well against Kansas, scoring 20 points while grabbing nine rebounds.
But Ament was elite in the first half, scoring 16 points on five-of-eight shooting before missing all seven field goal attempts in a four point second half. Tennessee needed more from him in the second half as its offense faltered.
So, yes, there’s going to be a bit of an adjustment period for Ament. That really shouldn’t come as a surprise for a true freshman. At the same time, I don’t leave Las Vegas feeling any worse about what Ament can bring this team long term.