Surging Springer Helps Propel Vols to Two Straight Wins with Elite Performances

When Jaden Springer is playing at his best, Tennessee is tough to beat. That is an undeniable fact at this point. While Keon Johnson’s highlight-reel dunk stole the headlines, Springer’s 30 point performance led all scorers, ultimately enabling the Volunteers to hold off a late surge from Georgia.

The red-hot Springer was one of America’s best prospects coming out of IMG Academy, and now, he is playing like a future NBA lottery pick. Springer scored 23 against Kentucky on Saturday, and he joined Volunteer elite status with his performance last night.

According to Tennessee Stats & Info, Springer became just the third freshman to score 30 or more points in a contest in the 15 years. Springer joined Tennessee legends Grant Williams and Chris Lofton in doing so.

Following last night’s performance, Rick Barnes had this to say, ““Well he is doing a lot of things well obviously offensively he has been explosive there. He can score at all three levels, and you guys see that. He is learning a lot, and I think he is still learning a lot about his game and things that he can do that he maybe has not been asked to do that we are expecting him to do a lot. Defensively, he’s really good night in and night out, but he was tired fatigue-wise. At one time three guys wanted out of the game, but we only took one, and we went with the one who had been out there the longest. But I am really proud of him with Keon (Johnson) sitting a little bit longer tonight because of foul trouble, otherwise he probably would have been into the thirties. At the end of the game, I thought we did good when they were pressing for the most part, when they would get us in the double teams we would pass out. We made good decisions, and Jaden will learn now that he has a really big target on him when he starts to play one-on-one and in isolation situations. We would like him to move the ball quicker, and he is going to have to understand that spin will not be there because people are going to get that and try to steal that.”

Springer and Johnson are both living up to their high school hype of late, and it appears Rick Barnes’s team could be turning the corner at the right time, with March just around the corner.

Following last night’s win 89-81 victory over Georgia, Tennessee will head to LSU on Saturday to take on the 12-6 (7-4) Tigers.

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