12. Tennessee (6-seed)
Nate Ament (Freshman – Forward)
Before the season began, Ament certainly had the spotlight on him as a Top 5 freshman recruit and it’s fair to say he’s lived up to those expectations overall. He’s been a productive piece of this frontcourt at 16.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, even with some iffy shooting numbers down the stretch. Ament really struggled in a few of the Volunteers’ recent games but bounced back nicely with that 16-point effort against Virginia to get this team back to the Sweet Sixteen.
Bishop Boswell (Sophomore – Guard)
As a freshman there wasn’t much of a role for Boswell in a packed backcourt, but he’s certainly found his footing in year two under Rick Barnes. Boswell’s putting up 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game and while those numbers don’t scream star he’s certainly a name on the rise for this team. You’re not going to get great shooting performances each night from Boswell but he’s a great defender and did have 13 points and 9 assists in a fantastic showing against Virginia.
J. P. Estrella (Junior – Forward)
Estrella originally came to Knoxville three years ago with high expectations but it’s taken until now for him to really have an opportunity in this system. The 6-11 forward averages 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds and has made 63% of his 2-point field goal attempts on the year. When on the court, he’s a very efficient weapon, especially as a rebounder who can score around the basket, notably with a double-double against Miami-Ohio and a few other standout efforts this season.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Senior – Guard)
The biggest reason for Tennessee’s success this season was the offseason addition of Gillespie and what he’s meant to this team. After starring at Belmont and Maryland, he’s earned conference honors from a third different league as he was named First Team All-SEC for averaging 18.4 points and 5.6 assists a game. Gillespie is a talented scorer and shot maker who runs the offense and also finished third in the SEC in steals this season. He topped 20 points in their first two Tournament games and will need to keep scoring at a high pace.
Felix Okpara (Senior – Center)
While Okpara’s numbers never really jump off the page, it’s more about his presence and what he brings in his second year with the Volunteers. The former Ohio State center averages 7.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while making nearly 60% of his field goals in an important role in this frontcourt. Okpara is one of the league’s best shot blockers, earning All-Defense honors while remaining a solid offense weapon as well. He didn’t miss a shot against Miami-Ohio and had 4 blocks in that slight upset win against Virginia.