Gillespie and Okpara Reflect After Duke Exhibition: “We’ve Got to Learn From It”

Finding Composure and Smarter Offense

When asked about staying motivated during tough stretches, Gillespie pointed to offensive discipline as a key factor. “We just got to take better shots and kind of know what we’re doing more on offense,” he explained. “I feel like we was rushing, just trying to get a shot up. So, we just got to take better shots.”

The senior guard also spoke about his confidence as a shooter, hinting that his summer work has earned him more trust from the coaching staff. “I walked in a lot this summer and I feel like coach got confidence,” Gillespie said. “I kind of knew when to shoot it and when not to.”

Okpara Emphasizes Physicality and Team Identity

Felix Okpara, who finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks, agreed that Tennessee must improve its toughness and presence in the paint. “You just got to start with us, the bigs,” Okpara said. “We just got to impose our will on the glass, and I don’t think we did a good job this game.”

Okpara credited the matchup as a learning opportunity and echoed Barnes’ message about building defensive consistency. “Like Rick said, we’re going to figure it out,” Okpara noted. “This was a good exhibition, just a good game to see where we’re at defensively.”

Appreciating the Moment and Team Growth

For Okpara, the chance to finally play in front of Tennessee fans was meaningful, even in defeat. “It felt great just to play in front of all the fans here in Knoxville,” he said. “It was good. We didn’t get the win though, so yeah, it’s bad.”

Gillespie also highlighted the impact of freshman forward DeWayne Brown II, who provided a spark off the bench. “Man, he was great,” Gillespie said. “He came off the bench and gave us what we’re looking for — rebounding, scoring, and energy.”

While the loss stung, both Gillespie and Okpara viewed it as a crucial step in the team’s progression. The Vols know they have work to do — particularly on the boards and in executing under pressure- but their postgame reflections carried a sense of purpose. As Gillespie said, “We just got to learn from that.”