Rarely does a senior learn something from a freshman.
Tennessee basketball guard Amaree Abram, however, seems to have picked up Amari Evans’ knack for immense production in limited time.
No. 23 Tennessee (9-3) blew past Gardner-Webb 94-52 on Dec. 21 at Food City Center. Abram, the senior, finished with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and three steals in just 13 minutes against the Bulldogs (2-13).
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His performance follows Evans’ seven-point, seven-minute performance in the Vols‘ 83-62 win over No. 11 Louisville on Dec. 16.
“He’s capable of being explosive, making those explosive plays for you,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said about Abram. “When he shoots it, we think when he gets his feet set − I would say that with most of the guys on the team − we feel good about it. But he’s been really good on the ball. He’s made some really big plays for us. He’s got great hands.”
While Abram led the Tennessee bench in scoring, the entire reserve unit had an impressive outing. The Vols’ bench produced 52 points, tying Gardner-Webb’s total.
“We feel that we have so much depth on our team,” said UT forward J.P. Estrella, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. “Coach Barnes has said it, we’ve got so many different guys that we can (play).”
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Jaylen Carey added 12 points and six rebounds, while Dewayne Brown II snagged a season-high 14 rebounds. Tennessee announced before the game that guard Ethan Burg would not play due to an illness.
Gardner-Webb has not defeated a Division I opponent this season. In their last game on Dec. 18, the Bulldogs defeated Toccoa Falls, which is part of the National Christian College Athletic Association. It’s only other win of the season was against Division II Brevard.
DJ Jefferson, who played at Tennessee from 2022-24, scored 13 points for Gardner-Webb.
The Vols have picked up their 43rd straight home nonconference victory, tying a school record. They have an opportunity to extend the streak on Dec. 30 against South Carolina State (1-12). It’s their last game before conference play begins on Jan. 3 at Arkansas.
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Abram, a Louisiana Tech transfer, is no stranger to the SEC. He started his collegiate career at Ole Miss, where he played in 32 games.
Barnes plans to lean on him when he SEC play begins in January.
“We need him,” Barnes said. “We need his experience. We need that because he’s played at this level before. He knows about it, and he also knows what’s coming.”
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Rick Barnes is ready to lean on Tennessee guard Amaree Abram
