Julian Phillips took 'some big steps' in Tennessee's win over Butler

Rick Barnes explained the next steps for Julian Phillips on Tuesday, before No. 22 Tennessee had its first workout in the Bahamas before the Battle 4 Atlantis.

“With Julian,” he said of his five-star freshman wing, “I think the biggest thing is still understanding the speed and how quick he is going to have to move. How quick he is going to have to move both offense and defense.”

The speed and the quickness seemed to suit Phillips Wednesday night, when he scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two assists, adding a block and a steal, in Tennessee’s 71-45 win over Butler in the first round of the tournament on Paradise Island.

“I thought Julian took some big steps tonight,” Barnes said after the game. “… I think he took some big steps tonight.” 

The Vols (3-1) advance to face Southern Cal (4-1) at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday on ESPN2 in the semifinal round. No. 3 Kansas and Wisconsin play the first semifinal at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.

The winners meet in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPN, while the losers play for third place at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Julian Phillips has ‘a lot more levels he’s going to be able to reach’

The 11 points Phillips scored against Butler matched the 11 he had last week in Tennessee’s 81-50 win over Florida Gulf Coast at Thompson-Boling Arena.

He had just five points and played only 15 minutes in the loss to Colorado on November 13 in Nashville, sitting most of the first half after picking up two early fouls. He had eight points in 24 minutes against Tennessee Tech on November 7, going 3-for-8 from the field. 

Phillips combined to go just 2-for-9 from the field in the Colorado and FGCU games, but made 12 of 16 attempts at the free-throw line. He was 5-for-6 from the line Wednesday against Butler.

“He is a guy that can drive the ball,” Barnes said, “but as you know those gaps close quick.”

Phillips dove into college basketball’s deep end in the preseason, making his unofficial Tennessee debut in the closed-door scrimmage against Michigan State, then playing in the neutral-site exhibition game against Gonzaga in Texas.

“Those are two high-level teams,” Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey said last week. “Tennessee Tech had an older guy at the wing position. Colorado, he matched up with an older guy as well. 

“So I think he’s gradually starting to feel a lot more comfortable in his role and what he can do. Obviously I think there are still a lot more levels he’s going to be able to reach, that he’s going to be able to get to.”

Up Next: No. 22 Tennessee vs. USC, Thursday, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

The 6-foot-8, 198-pound Phillips, a five-star prospect in the On3 consensus, initially committed to LSU. He reopened his recruitment in March following the firing of Will Wade, before ultimately picking Tennessee. 

Phillips was the No. 13 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus in the 2022 recruiting cycle. Barnes said the adjustment process is still happening on both ends of the floor as Phillips works toward meeting those lofty expectations.

“As I mentioned before,” Barnes said, “I expect him to get better every time he goes out to understand that it is only going to get more difficult. It is not going to get any easier. 

“Julian has done a good job,” he added, “he has up to this point. We haven’t seen him be everything we know he can be. Again, it is not because of him not wanting to do it. Just a matter of it is a whole new experience for him. He learns something every time he goes out.”