Tyreke Key, Josiah-Jordan James talk season-opening win over Tennessee Tech

No. 11 Tennessee’s 75-43 season-opening win over Tennessee Tech on Monday night included a team-high 17 points from Tyreke Key, who went 5-for-10 from the field, and Josiah-Jordan James scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds off the bench in his return from arthroscopic surgery.

Here’s what Key and James said about the win during their postgame press conferences:

Tennessee guard Tyreke Key

His comfort level in his first game at Tennessee

“I felt comfortable out there. Playing against Michigan State and Gonzaga, those were two games to kind of get me going in my groove again since I sat out last year. I just thought I felt comfortable the whole game and just kind of got in rhythm early and just felt comfortable.”

Playing in front of an announced crowd of nearly 18,000 in a Tennessee home game

“It was a really fun experience. I didn’t play last year, so being able to play in front of people again and just being out there and having fun is a really cool experience for myself.”

Being in a Tennessee offense that heavily involves 3-point attempts

“We have a lot of great shooters. We didn’t really shoot the best tonight, but the nights they’re going to go in, we’re going to score a lot of points. Everybody can shoot it and that’s why we’re such an explosive offensive team. The nights they’re going to fall is going to be a good night.”

The last time he came off the bench in a game like he does with Tennessee

“The last time was my freshman year. I didn’t start the first half of the season, but I do enjoy it. I think me being a spark off the bench is good. I don’t have any problem with it at all.”

On being a backup point guard behind Zakai Zeigler

“I like it, I like the role a lot. I just have to push the pace a little bit more when I’m bringing it up the floor because we like to bring it up the floor quick and get into our offense. That’s the biggest thing for me, picking up my pace when I am at the one. Just bringing it up the floor fast and getting everyone in their spots.”

Getting into his rhythm

“Just coming in and playing hard. That’s the biggest thing for me. Just being that spark and coming in and trying to play the best defense I can. We have a lot of guys that can shoot and a lot of playmakers out there, so we all do a good job of finding each other and trying to find each other in our spots.”

Freshman guard DJ Jefferson sitting out as a redshirt and his potential

“He has extremely high potential. He just needs to keep working hard and he is a really hard worker, so his potential — he’s a crazy athlete. His potential is through the roof and you know he’s going to do what he can to work extremely hard to be where he wants to be.”

Senior wing Josiah-Jordan James

Getting back on the floor for Tennessee after sitting out during the preseason

“I felt really good. It was a lot of fun being back out there playing against people who arent my teammates, just being out there in a competitive environment. I want to give a shoutout to Vol Nation. They showed up and showed out. They were loud for 40 minutes once again, and they gave us a big boost like they always do. I was really just anxious to get back out there with my teammates. My teammates kept me level headed. They kept me confident through the time when I wasn’t practicing. Being out there today was a lot of fun.”

Returning to practice on Thursday

“That was the first time in a couple of weeks where I had practiced. I had some practices throughout the summer where I came back, but I wouldn’t go fully. (Thursday) was the first time in a couple of weeks where I get in on 5-on-5.”

If he has felt good physically since that practice

“Felt great. My knee is not the problem, it’s just me getting my wind back. Trying to get back in game shape is tough because we’re playing really fast, and we’re always going to guard people. On the offensive end, we’re playing so much faster than we have in past years, which I’m cool with, but I have to take it day-by-day getting back in shape.”

The procedure that was done on his knee

“I just had a scope after the season ended. We were very cautious. Chad and G both said we were going to be overly cautious with it, and the last three weeks I’ve gotten a PRP and a Senvisc injection — one every Monday for three weeks. I’m done with that. I had a scope procedure done and three sets of injections.”

If this team can shoot better from the 3-point line

“Yeah, I do because we just have the talent to do it. One through five, I think we have people all on the court who practice those shots, who have the green light to shoot those shots. I think that’s going to be our M.O. for sure. The coaches’ big thing is rebounding for us. Our offense is all based solely on rebounding. It doesn’t matter what shots we shoot, we have to go try and get our misses because they’re not all going to fall. We’re definitely going to shoot a high volume of 3s this year just because we have the personnel to do it.”

Difference in the offensive style since he got here

“The offense itself is a lot different. I remember my first couple of years, we were more inside-out. We did a lot of curling to get to the elbow and we’re shooting a lot of mid-range shots. We’ve spaced the floor out a lot. We’ve put an emphasis on shooting past the NBA line. I don’t know if you guys saw it, but coach has put down this blue line at Pratt, which is like a couple feet past the NBA (3-point) line where he wants us playing and shooting from out there. We have better spacing now, we have more ball movement, player movement than we did in past years.” 

How good the defense can be

“Defense is always going to coach Barnes’ identity. Our offense is going to feed off our defense, and so I think this team has a chance to be really good defensively. I know we were pretty good last year, but I think we can take it up to a whole different level. It’s going to take time. We have young guys, guys like (Tyreke Key) and Julian (Phillips) and Jonas (Aidoo) and Jahmai (Mashack), guys who didn’t really play too much last year or who weren’t here last year that have to get used to it. It’s not something you’re just thrown into and you’ll be perfect at it overnight. It’s going to take some games, take some time, but they’re doing a great job with it. I think we have a chance to be really special defensively.”

His first impression of Tyreke Key when he met him

“The first time I saw him workout, I remember  I had just come back from Africa, and he was going to work out with GP, and I was like, ‘This dude is not missing.’ He was dunking, he was shooting, and I’m telling you, him and Zakai (Zeigler) are two people who if they miss one shot in a workout, they are frustrated. It really angers them. He’s not used to missing, and I’m not used to seeing him miss. He’s an outstanding player, but it didn’t take him long for him to realize he was going to be a great addition to this team both offensively and defensively. He can score the ball with the best of them for sure.”

BJ Edwards scoring late in the game

“I’m really proud of BJ. He’s a Knoxville kid. Everybody knows him. I’m proud of him because of the work he’s put in since he got here. Him going up against Zakai and Santi throughout the summer and throughout the preseason has been really good for him. He stepped up to the challenge for sure, and he does a great job of challenging them as well as them challenging him. I’m just proud of the mindset he has. He comes in and gets his work done. He’s really improved, and he’s really impressed me a lot. I didn’t really know what to expect from when he first got here, but he really surprised me with the IQ he has. He’s just a hooper at the end of the day. He’ll have a great impact on this team and the teams in the future for sure.”

How long it could take for him to get back in shape

“I think it is tough for me to put a number on it. I’ve had three practices before today, and so I wasn’t in great shape. I got tired, and I was kind of on a minute restriction with Chad and G. I’ll definitely be in better shape by the time we go to Nashville and play Colorado, but I can’t say I’ll be in great shape by then. It may take me a couple of games. I hope as soon as possible, but it is tough for me to put a timestamp on it, to be honest.”