Watch: Highlights from Tennessee basketball's open practice on Tuesday
Tennessee basketball on Tuesday held its first open practice of the 2023-24 season at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols start the new season on November 6 at home against Tennessee Tech.
The Vols were shorthanded in the first open practice, missing redshirt freshman wing DJ Jefferson, sophomore forward Tobe Awaka, freshman forward JP Estrella and junior point guard Zakai Zeigler.
“Tobe’s been out a couple days (in) concussion protocol,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Tuesday afternoon during his media day press conference. “And and JP hasn’t really done much all since we started here regular season. And DJ (Jefferson has) missed the last couple practices just due to the fact that he hasn’t lived up to what we want him to do and all that facets of the program. So we haven’t put it all together.”
Tennessee unofficially starts the new season with a charity exhibition game at Michigan State on October 29. The Vols host Lenoir-Rhyne in an exhibition game at Thompson-Boling Arena on October 31 before Tennessee starts the regular-season schedule at home against Tennessee Tech on November 6.
Tennessee goes to Wisconsin on November 10 in the first road game of the season. The Vols officially started preseason practices last week.
“I think this time of year, this is a big month for all of us in college basketball because we know we’re all a month away from starting to compete and trying to get everything going,” Barnes said, “but knowing that we get some time during the summer, we don’t want to be tired come March. And so we’ve tried to work that.”
Tennessee brings back a pair of fifth-year seniors in Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi. Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate) and Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado) were added by Tennessee out of the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Top 10
- 1New
Nico Iamaleava update
UT QB status revealed vs. Georgia
- 2
Nick Saban
Coach regrets leaving LSU
- 3Hot
Gruden talks Tennessee
Ex-NFL coach addresses past rumors
- 4
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 5Trending
Jay Williams
Analyst calls out Kentucky fans
Wing Cameron Carr and forwards JP Estrella and Cade Phillips made up Tennessee’s 2023 signing class.
“Older guys, I’ve always thought that older guys don’t need a lot, but they can take all you want to give them,” Barnes said of Tennessee’s preseason practices. “Younger guys, they need a lot, but can’t take it, physically and mentally. And so that’s the part you’re trying to blend.
“And that’s where it’s important that your older guys help these younger guys understand how to max out and not mistake activity for achievement. And when you’re in practice, you gotta go at it. But that’s probably this month, in some ways is a really a rude awakening for I think most freshmen because it’s time now that (there are) longer practices, more practices and the grind is tough.
“But again, I really appreciate our guys and what they’re doing and what they’re going through. But the older guys have been really good mentors for the younger guys.”
