How Olivier Nkamhoua rebounded for No. 8 Tennessee in 85-42 win at South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 8 Tennessee beat Mississippi State by 37 points Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols started the game on a 16-0 run, shot 69.2 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from the free-throw line. Olivier Nkamhoua scored 10 points and didn’t miss a shot, going 5-for-5 in his 18 minutes.

But the senior forward didn’t record a single rebound. He only had one in 21 minutes at Ole Miss the last time out.

Rick Barnes couldn’t look past it.

“We’re breaking down film,” Barnes said Saturday of the 87-53 win on Tuesday in Knoxville, “the one guy that we went at pretty good was (Nkamhoua), the fact that he only had one rebound in 39 minutes over two games.”

Olivier Nkamhoua ties Vols single-game record going 10-for-10 from the field

Nkamhoua got the message. At South Carolina on Saturday, he scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Vols kept rolling with an 85-42 win. He was perfect from the floor again, going 10-for-10 in 23 minutes, tying a Tennessee program record.

“He went to practice and, I’m telling you, we’ve had two hard practices since the Mississippi State game,” Barnes said, “and he really went at it. I’m so happy for him, that it showed up for him today. It just goes to show you that this game gives you what you put into it.”

Nkamhoua didn’t give himself a passing grade, though. Forget going 15-for-15 from the field over the last two games, not missing a shot since Ole Miss. Forget the double-double Saturday.

He goes over his game in detail just like his head coach.

“I am kind of mad I had two turnovers,” he said, “just because I have been struggling with turnovers. My job is to rebound. It is not something that should be a surprise to anybody if I get some rebounds. 

“Coach is right to challenge me. I can’t have games back-to-back where I am not rebounding the ball.”

Nkamhoua had his own personal rebound to make at South Carolina. It was at Colonial Life Arena last year where his junior season ended after going down with an ankle injury that would ultimately require surgery.

He had seven points and five rebounds in 17 minutes before the injury, watching his season end after spending the previous three months as Tennessee’s most productive big man.

Now, he’s Tennessee’s second leading scorer this season, averaging 12.0 points per game. He’s third in rebounding (4.9) and third in minutes (26.1) while shooting 60.8 percent from the field on 120 attempts. 

The numbers suggest he’s well past the injury.

“I kind of just feel like I am new,” Nkamhoua said. “I feel like when you come back from injury it is not like you don’t go back to what you used to be. You build something new. 

“I feel like my leg is stronger now. I built it back up. Same one I had an injury before in high school. You don’t return to what you were. You try to be better. I think I am getting better and I think I am going to keep getting better.”

He walked back into the arena for the first time Friday night, when the Vols arrived in town for a shootaround, describing the experience as “weird.”

“It is good to come back here and play a full game,” Nkamhoua said, “and mentally get over (it). Mentally, it was a good box to check.”

He’s checking every box on the offensive end — finding his rhythm, finding where he needs to be, executing after his teammates get him the ball in his spots. 

“Taking shots that I know I am good at,” Nkamhoua said, “and that I know I work on every day.”

“I think knowing your space on the court,” Barnes added, “where you’re most effective and getting to it, he’s certainly been doing that. He certainly did that today.”

Up Next: No. 8 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt, Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Tennessee’s 43-point win was the third most lopsided win on the road in program history and the biggest since 1965. It was South Carolina’s worst loss in SEC play and the biggest margin of defeat in the 20-year history of Colonial Life Arena. 

But after winning two games by a combined 77 points, Nkamhoua isn’t all that content.

“We are clicking,” he said, “but we are not clicking how we can be. We are doing pretty well but we can be so much better.”

For him, it starts with rebounding and those turnovers. His shot selection could use some work, too. Maybe some trips to the free-throw line. 

He was critiquing himself Saturday night, before Barnes had a chance to in the film room in the coming days.

“I think I need to keep focusing on my rebounding,” Nkamhoua said. “I think the turnovers is one of my biggest things right now. Not forcing passes. Choosing the right passes. 

“Then keep shooting the shots that I feel comfortable with. Maybe fading away a little bit less on my turnaround so maybe I get a foul or two. I haven’t been shooting free throws lately. I am trying to get fouled a little bit. That would be a good addition.”