Tennessee Vols' Igor Milicic, Jr. delivered a performance in win over Missouri that hadn't been seen in major basketball this century
Tennessee proved last Saturday against Florida that they could win without talented transfer Igor Milicic, Jr. on the floor. They showed on Wednesday night just how good they can be as a team with him, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Milicic, who sat out the Vols' 64-44 win over Florida with flu-like […]
Tennessee proved last Saturday against Florida that they could win without talented transfer Igor Milicic, Jr. on the floor. They showed on Wednesday night just how good they can be as a team with him, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
Milicic, who sat out the Vols' 64-44 win over Florida with flu-like symptoms, returned against Missouri on Wednesday and had a big day in Tennessee's 85-81 win over the Tigers.
How big? Statistically, it was a performance unique to major basketball this century in its breadth and efficiency, on both ends of the court. Milicic matched Zakai Zeigler for a team-high 21 points, and he did it on 8-10 shooting and 2-3 from three. He added 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 steals.
Per Opta Stats, Milicic became the first player in the NBA, WNBA, or division I men's or women's basketball in at least the last 25 years to eclipse the following marks in a single game: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals, 75% field goal percentage, 50% three-point percentage, and 75% free throw percentage.
That's pretty wild to consider, given the ridiculous numbers that NBA and WNBA players put up on a nightly basis.
But it was a perfect showcase for why Rick Barnes recruited the talented forward this offseason in the transfer portal. With his size at 6'10" and his shooting touch, his rare combination of skills gives Barnes a versatile player who can play well and contribute away from the basket. He also showed he's not just a one trick pony on the offensive end, using his length to force positive defensive results in what turned out to be a close win.
It might just be February, but Milicic's special game helped the Vols secure another top 15 win as they work towards getting a top seed in next month's NCAA tournament. If the Vols are going to make their first ever Final Four, they'll need special performances in key moments to get there.
It's nice to know that Milicic has this kind of game in him if they need it.
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