Olivier Nkamhoua's Sudden Surge

Each game, it feels like we write about a new Tennessee offensive contributor. However, one name has repeatedly come up over the past few games.

Forward Olivier Nkamhoua has posted some impressive numbers over the past few games. He's willed them through difficult offensive spots enough to allow his teammates to catch up to the action.

2/1 @ Florida: 11 points, nine rebounds, one assist
1/28 vs. Texas: 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, 12/15 FGs

He appears a more confident player on the court. Nkamhoua has posted consecutive double-digit scoring outings for the first time since December. The eye test matches those numbers; the Volunteers look to him in critical spots.

Florida jumped out to a 17-4 run, and Nkamhoua immediately had the ball in his hands. Nkamhoua scored seven consecutive points to will them back into the game, although they lost.

Head coach Rick Barnes enjoys having multiple post presences, and Tennessee hasn't had one star on the block this season. Uros Plavsic and Jonas Aidoo have had some encouraging outings, but Nkamhoua's skill set provides the widest array of possibilities.

Tennesse has enough crafty perimeter players. Zakai Zeigler, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah Jordan-James, and Julian Phillips are all helpful contributors, but at a certain point, perimeter play becomes redundant.

Establishing a presence on the low block serves this offense well, as their best outings have come when the guards can feed the ball into the post. Nkamhoua has been strong out of the post and in face-up situations, allowing them to run more creative sets with additional spacing.

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