By Logan Starkey
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a string of bad performances preceding it, Amaree Abram proved his offense would be essential to No. 20 Tennessee this season in a blowout of Tennessee State, 89-60.
Abram came into the Nov. 20 contest struggling to take advantage of his strengths. At Louisiana Tech last year, Abram shot 37.3% from deep on 5.5 attempts per game. It is, in large part, the reason he is now a member of the Volunteers. He had started the season just 1-for-7 from the perimeter, a measly 14.3%. Then, something changed against TSU.
Abram knocked down a three on Tennessee’s second possession. Then, he made another on Tennessee’s third possession. Then, on the fifth Volunteer possession, he knocked down another. It was a flurry of quick strikes with no hesitation. If he wore boxing gloves, his offense would have looked like prime Mike Tyson’s.
Tennessee jumped to a 13-2 lead and never looked back because of Abram.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes is known as a defensive savant, but he took note of Abram’s offensive impact.
“He took good shots,” Barnes said. “He doesn’t have to force it; he’s a good player. We’re not surprised he can shoot the ball; he can drive it too.”
Abram has been starting in place of an injured Bishop Boswell, who has missed three straight games with a hamstring injury. Abram finding his groove could give him a chance to start as the Volunteer coaching is still working out kinks in the rotation.
Tennessee has struggled to score from the perimeter in recent years. In the 21-22 season, Tennessee finished atop the SEC in three-point percentage. Since then,they’ve only finished in the top half of the SEC in three-point percentage once. They were dead in the middle at seventh of 14 teams in the conference. Year after year, Tennessee strives to fix its shooting woes, and Abram is the answer.
Abram gave all the credit to his teammates.
“My teammates did a good job of finding me,” Abram said. “They were open looks. I just knocked them down.”
Abram’s deep shot needs to be in tip-top shape, as Tennessee moves forward to face five straight Power 4 opponents, including No. 2 Houston, No. 8 Illinois, and No. 6 Louisville. If his shot is falling, it’ll be a huge bonus for Tennessee in a tough stretch.