JP Estrella delivered a double-double to spark No. 18 Tennessee’s 95–56 win over Northern Kentucky on Saturday.
“I promise you he can do more of that,” head coach Rick Barnes said.
Estrella’s production helped give the Volunteers a 2–0 start to the season and offered an early glimpse of the sophomore forward’s growing role. He finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the year.
He anchored Tennessee on both ends as the Vols overwhelmed the Norse with size, pace and interior efficiency.
Barnes said Estrella’s performance is a product of the physical edge he’s beginning to embrace.
“He’s still going to have to play quicker because the more you do, the more people are going to come after you quicker and not going to be able to play around with it,” Barnes said. Barnes added, “He’s making strides… he’s just getting started to what we think he can be.”
Tennessee trailed in the opening minutes, but after Nate Ament scored to make it 11–10, the Vols never trailed again. Estrella’s rim protection and touch around the basket fueled stretches of transition offense.
The Vols shot 52% from the field and 41% from 3-point range, and outscored NKU 42–22 in the paint. The leaned on Estrella to set the tone.
Barnes said the 6-foot-11 forward is only beginning to understand his ceiling after missing significant time last season.
“He still doesn’t have a clue how good he can be. He really he’s such a humble, you know, free-loving guy. And I told him, I said, ‘You can be like that, but when you go get on the floor, you gonna have to change the way you see things, the way you do things.’ There’s just so much more there and I think he’ll get there,” Barnes said.
Tennessee now turns its attention to North Florida on Wednesday.
