Josiah-Jordan James talks about confidence on offense

On Saturday, Tennessee and Auburn played a hard-fought low, scoring old-school-style game in which the Volunteers came out on top. Tennessee was able to knock off their SEC rival 46-43 thanks to the performance guard Josiah-Jordan James. After the game, James gave some insight into his confidence on offense against Auburn.

“I would just credit my preparation; credit the work that I put in before practice, after practice. Whether it’s making shots around the perimeter or just going form shooting, I feel like I can get to my spot. My teammates have given me the ultimate confidence when I get the ball within the arc to raise up above defenders. So it’s just the confidence thing that I have in myself and that my teammates give me,” said James in the post-game press conference.

As a team, Tennessee shot just 27 percent from the floor, while Auburn shot just under 24 percent. James ended the night as the only Volunteers player in double-digit scoring and rebounding thanks to his 5-12 shooting from the floor. His numbers from shooting beyond the arc drag down his field goal percentage, sadly, as he was 1-7 from three. James finished the night as the games leading scorer and rebounder with 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Josiah-Jordan James discusses how Tennessee bounced back after Florida loss

Coming off a midweek loss to Florida, the Volunteers were looking to flip the script in one key area, ensuring Tennessee bounced back after the loss. That area?

Defense.

After giving up 67 points in a loss to Florida, Tennessee had to do some real self-examination. After all, the Volunteers pride themselves on being the best defensive team in the country.

“On Wednesday when we played them we weren’t that team,” Josiah-Jordan James said. “So we sat down in the film room. We had to look ourselves in the mirror, individually and collectively as a team, and learn from our mistakes, and I felt like we did.”

Indeed.

In a defensive struggle against Auburn, it was Tennessee that managed to come out on top in a 46-43 struggle.

The defensive end of the floor proved the difference.

“Like I’ve always said, we think we’re the best defensive team in the country,” James said. “Whether shots are falling, whether we’re scoring or not, we always have to be able to rely on our defense.”

Auburn finished the game just 13-of-55 (23.6%) from the floor and 3-of-27 (11.1%) from 3-point range.