Tennessee opened its 2025–26 season with a 76–61 win over Mercer on Monday night. The Vols showed flashes of dominance inside but also the growing pains of a team still learning to play together.
Size stands tall vs. the Bears
Rick Barnes made it clear early that the Vols’ game plan was to feed the post. Cross screens, post-ups and pick-and-roll actions freed Tennessee’s bigs, especially 6-foot-11 JP Estrella, who finished with 12 points; eight before halftime.
Tennessee’s frontcourt combined for 37 points, taking advantage of a clear size mismatch against Mercer. That edge won’t always be there. As the schedule toughens and the Vols face physical teams like Houston or SEC opponents with comparable length, the guards will need to carry a larger share of the scoring load. Interior dominance worked Monday, but Tennessee can’t rely on it forever.
Taming the turnovers
With only one returning starter, Tennessee looked like a team still getting comfortable. The Vols committed 19 turnovers. Many of them unforced, coming on rushed passes, mishandled dribbles and poor spacing in the half-court.
Barnes was visibly frustrated with the miscues, which led to 16 Mercer points. The Vols have four more games against non–Power Five opponents to clean up those issues, but the head coach will expect progress before the Players Era Championship begins Nov. 24.
Acclimating Ament and Gillespie
Two players adjusting to new roles, freshman Nate Ament and Belmont transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie, had uneven nights. Both showed flashes of promise, but their nerves showed early.
Gillespie committed four turnovers and shot just 27.3 percent from the field, though he hit a pair of threes, including one off a pindown in the first half. Ament had a slow start but found rhythm after halftime, finishing with a team-high 18 points, 12 came in the second half and displayed skill on a post-up turnaround jumper.
If Ament and Gillespie can settle into their roles, Tennessee’s offense has the potential to evolve quickly and keep the Vols in the Final Four conversation.
Tennessee returns to action Friday against Northern Kentucky, looking to build on its inside success while cutting down on the turnovers that kept Mercer within reach.
