By SCOTT FELTS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to the newest feature here at I-81 Sports. “Beyond the Box Score” looks to provide reports on games of interest to our target audience with more analysis and nuggets of information that you would find in a standard game recap. We’re planning to continue this series for every remaining Tennessee men’s basketball game, both in SEC play and the postseason.
In the only matchup of the day between nationally ranked teams, No. 18 Tennessee traveled to No. 19 Arkansas on Saturday as the Southeastern Conference schedule opened. What ensued was a game that was very much winnable for the Vols, but missed free throws and too many turnovers doomed them to an 86-75 loss.
Let’s go Beyond The Box Score and take a deeper look.
Rookie Monsters: This matchup was viewed as a battle between star freshmen with Tennessee’s Nate Ament and Amari Evans going against Arkansas’ Darius Acuff, Jr. and Meleek Thomas. Sorry Vol fans, but the edge went to the Hogs. Acuff (29) and Thomas (18) combined for 47 of the Razorbacks’ 86 points. Acuff’s day included Arkansas’ first seven points of the game.
Meanwhile, Evans ended up being the star for Tennessee today, shooting perfect (7-for-7) from the field for 17 points and grabbing three steals. Ament, meanwhile, struggled. He scored only three points in the first half, attempting just two shots from the field and missing three of his first four free throws in 13 minutes of action. Ament has looked a little timid in some games this season, as the older Ja’Kobi Gillespie has been more the playmaker and go-to guy from the point guard position. If Ament, who finished with 13 points on 4 of 9 field and goals and 5 of 11 free throws, is going to continue to slowly come along, the Vols are going to need Evans to keep up his recent success.
Free Throw Shooting Was Foul: That’s foul, as in poor. Because of the small margin of error in the SEC, free throw shooting is going to have to improve for the Vols in conference play. The Vols finished 12 of 23 from the free throw line and made just two of eight in the first half. If you do that while your opponent shoots 90%, like Arkansas did, you aren’t going to win many close conference games.
Writer’s Block: As big as the Vols are across their lineup, there’s no excuse for them to be blocked 10 times over the course of a game. Ament and some of the younger players are struggling with the concept of taking the ball to the hoop and the option of pulling up and taking a shot before getting among the trees under the basket. Ament’s last shot with under a minute was one of those unblockable elbow shots that went in, and represents exactly what he needs to do more of.
Up Next: The Vols host Texas on Tuesday at 9 p.m. The Longhorns came into Saturday 9-4 before their SEC opener against Mississippi State.
Tip Ins: The coaching matchup was between two future Hall of Famers, and Arkansas’ John Calipari tied Rick Barnes with 846 total wins with this result. Calipari, of course, had 42 victories vacated from violations during his time at Memphis and UMass. … The Vols entered averaging 81.3 points in their wins and 66 points per game in their losses. … Arkansas went just 7 of 23 on 3s, which helped keep Tennessee in the game until late.