Juke Harris still looking to settle in with Tennessee
It’s early, but the Juke Harris-Tennessee marriage is off to a slow start — that may be putting it mildly. Through two official games, Harris has just 13 total points. The Wake Forest transfer scored seven points in the home opener against Wofford, then just six points against Radford on Monday. Harris is 3-13 from […]
Tennessee guard Juke Harris is struggling to find his footing with the Volunteers early in the season. After two games, Harris has only tallied 13 total points, including seven points in the home opener against Wofford and just six points against Radford. His shooting percentages from the field and beyond the three-point line are dismal, mirroring his performance during the preseason.
Assistant coach Earl Grant attributes Harris's slow start to the transition to a new team dynamic. Last season, Harris dominated the court for the Demon Deacons, averaging over 21 points per game and taking the majority of shots. This season, with a more balanced lineup, Harris's usage rate has dropped to 17.7 percent, likely to increase as players like Terrence Hill Jr., Tyler Lundblade, and Dai Dai Ames contribute.
Despite these challenges, Harris remains a crucial asset for Tennessee. Grant emphasizes that Harris must adapt to multiple roles, including defense, rebounding, and facilitation, beyond scoring. With Rick Barnes likely adjusting the starting lineup and rotations, Harris has an opportunity to step up, potentially boosting the team's performance as they prepare for crucial games against Michigan State and the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
