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I wrote a few weeks ago about Ja’Kobi Gillespie‘s issues during “winning time”, the final five minutes of a close game.
Those issues have not gone away.
In the six games since I wrote that column, one of them — at home against Ole Miss — was a comfortable blowout for the Vols that saw them leading by more than 20 entering the final five minutes.
The others?
- In an eventual overtime win at Georgia, Gillespie had one point and went 0-for-3 from the field in the final five of regulation. His shot at the buzzer looked like it was going to fall, and potentially win the game, but it drew iron. In OT, Gillespie attempted one shot, grabbed a rebound, and had an assist.
- In a home win over Auburn, the Vols entered the final five leading by nine. Gillespie made two free throws and attempted one shot that he missed as the Vols won 77-69.
- In a collapse at Kentucky, not to be confused with the collapse in Knoxville against those same Wildcats, Tennessee entered the final five leading by three. Gillespie went scoreless and, after missing a layup at the 4:48 Mark, didn’t attempt another shot from the field the rest of the way.
- In the midweek win at Mississippi State, with the Vols leading by seven going into the final five, Gillespie went scoreless, missed his only shot, and totals one assist, one board, and one turnover.
- Saturday evening against LSU, with the Vols leading by six entering the final five, Gillespie missed a 3 but grabbed a rebound and dished two assists.
Make no mistake, the Vols — who, I would argue have failed to live up to preseason billing — would be in bad shape without Gillespie. He leads the team in scoring, minutes, and assists. No other player in the Southeastern Conference has made more 3-pointers in League play than the Greeneville native. And yet, Gillespie disappears during crunch time. I find it fascinating that a player can be so instrumental and so productive to a team’s overall fortunes, then basically vanish down the stretch. His fade at Kentucky is especially concerning, given the significance of the game. It’s also worth mentioning that Gillespie leads the team, by a wide margin, in both total field goals attempted and 3-point attempts.
Honestly surprised this isn’t being talked about more among Tennessee media. Maybe if or when it becomes a topic, they’ll at least give me credit?
Speaking of Division I basketball players from Greeneville, I’m not saying I know anything, but I’ve already got a notification set up if Trey Thompson enters the transfer portal at the season’s end. Thompson reclassified and enrolled at Iowa for 2025-26 on the pretense of helping right away. Thompson’s been dealing with a reported illness for a significant portion of the season, but he’s yet to appear in a game and at this point it would probably be better for all parties involved if he redshirts. I got to watch Thompson play several times in the 2024-25 season and came away impressed. I’ve spoken with multiple Division I coaches about him, at least one of whom expressed no small measure of regret that he couldn’t land Thompson for his team. If Thompson does choose to enter the portal, he’ll have no shortage of suitors.
College baseball and softball are getting rolling, and we’ll be tracking things here on I-81 Sports. Look for articles on weekend series for Tennessee once SEC play begins and as news warrants during non-conference play. A neutral site three-game trip to Arlington, Texas, that includes games against UCLA, Arizona State, and Virginia Tech looks tasty. This opening weekend’s three-game sweep of overmatched Nicholls? Not so much.
We posted a report from ETSU’s season-opening baseball series earlier today. We also plan on giving the ETSU softball team its due, considering the high number of local athletes on the roster. Several of those locals showed out during the opening weekend, which saw freshman Hailey Porter, an all-state shortstop at Dobyns-Bennett, batted at a .400 clip with two doubles, five RBIs, and her first career home run. Porter also scored four runs and tallied 11 total bases — the most of any ETSU player this weekend. Fellow freshman Riley Croley, a Daniel Boone product, had nine total bases, scored seven runs, and had six hits including a double and triple while driving in six. Abigail Taylor, a senior who played her high school ball at Science Hill, hit .500 and had six runs scored. Taylor stole four bases in six attempts, while Porter and Croley also swiped a bag apiece. In the circle, Eden Muncy, a Rye Cove alum, closed out a 14-1 victory over Presbyterian, with three innings of near-perfect relief pitching.
Look for weekend recaps of ETSU baseball and softball as the season progresses as well.
Not to brag, but our resident sports betting expert J.T. Chadwell has been on a roll as of late, especially with his weekly tip sheets on PGA events. He had a winning record in terms of units played going into this weekend and finished $311 to the good on his wagers from the Pro-Am at Pebble Beach and finished one missed shot away of cashing for $1,200. The PGA tip sheet typically gets posted here either some time Tuesday or Wednesday morning, at the latest.
We’re looking to add some MLB content later this spring, focusing on the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, the two teams with the largest fan bases where we’re currently based in the Tri-Cities region of Northeast Tennessee. If you’re passionate about the Braves or Reds, have writing skill, and can meet a deadline every week, reach out to us! Just email either John@i81sports.com or Mark@I81sports.com and one of us will be in touch. I promise not to deluge you with Chicago Cubs content but I make no promises, especially as speculation builds that there may not even be a season in 2027 due to a looming work stoppage.