Three concerns for Tennessee basketball in road loss to Syracuse

Rick Barnes didn't expect Syracuse guard Nate Kingz to score 19 first-half points against Tennessee basketball.

But the Vols coach couldn't have expected many things that happened for and against the No. 13 Vols (7-2) in a 62-60 loss to Syracuse (5-3) at the JMA Wireless Dome on Dec. 2.

Tennessee got season-worst performances from three starters, including Nate Ament, among its many issues. Here are three concerns from the loss:

Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips struggled as Tennessee's starting forwards

Tennessee could have found something it'll use more as the season progresses with the post combination of DeWayne Brown and Jaylen Carey. But it got to see more of that pairing, in part, because of the major struggles from Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips.

The starting forwards combined for two points on 1-for-7 shooting, seven rebounds and four turnovers in 34 minutes. Okpara had a dunk blocked and was ineffective offensively around the rim. Phillips' lone field goal was a turnaround baseline jumper, which he missed badly. The pair also wasn't great in UT's loss in their last game against Kansas.

Carey carried UT's offense with a career-high 22 points. Brown scored four points to start a comeback in the second half, which Carey then powered with post points.

J.P. Estrella was out with a right ankle injury, which he suffered against Kansas.

The turnover monster showed up again for Tennessee

Tennessee had turnover problems through its first five games. It had at least 11 in each of those games and sprinkled in 17 against Tennessee State and 19 against Mercer.

The Vols cleaned those issues up in the Players Era Festival with only nine against Houston and seven against Kansas, but they had 17 at Syracuse.

"Some of the turnovers we had was ridiculous," Barnes said.

Ament was the biggest culprit of miscues. He had seven turnovers after not having more than three in a game this season. He had back-to-back turnovers in the final four minutes after giving Tennessee a one-point lead with his lone 3-pointer.

Syracuse scored 24 points off UT's turnovers.

Tennessee's guard rotation is thinning out and quickly

Barnes said Tennessee's "guard play wasn’t very good." Specifically, the backup guards were brutal.

Ethan Burg was unplayable and has been trending downward since the schedule dialed up when UT went to the Players Era Festival. Amari Evans got extended first-half minutes due to foul trouble for Bishop Boswell and Ja'Kobi Gillespie. He struggled. Troy Henderson only played two minutes.

Amaree Abram hit a pair of 3-pointers and was on the court for important second-half minutes as Tennessee came back in the second half. But he is the only backup guard who has proven he can provide any semblance of consistency.

The guard rotation is thinning out and quickly as Tennessee's schedule gets more serious. It's a borderline three-player mix with Gillespie, Boswell and Abram at the two primary guard positions alongside Ament.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball concerns after loss to Syracuse