Fulkerson can thrive in UT’S offense
John Fulkerson was put in timeout Wednesday night.
The Tennessee basketball senior goofed defensively when he left South Carolina guard Nathan Nelson, who hit a corner 3-pointer. Then he made an excuse when he came to the bench.
Rick Barnes told Fulkerson to scram with a flick of the wrist.
“I made a bad play on defense,” Fulkerson said. “I can remember it vividly. I did something I should not have. I think that just goes to show the standard that coach holds me to.”
Fulkerson met the standard the rest of the game for the No. 20 Vols (15-5, 8-5 SEC), who are scheduled to host Kentucky (6-13, 5-7) on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, CBS) at Thompson-boling Arena. He had 19 points and six rebounds in UT’S 93-73 win against South Carolina.
Most importantly, Fulkerson ran all over the court, was efficient shooting, rebounded, and drew fouls in 30 minutes that proved he can thrive in Tennessee’s more guard-oriented offense.
Making it easy for John Fulkerson
“Teams are keying in on John. I like to tell them it is not Fulky’s job to be Carmelo Anthony in the mid-post isolation, post-fadeaway game. He has to get some easy buckets. I thought the guys did a really good job of setting him, so he could score some easy ones.” — Vols assistant coach Kim English
Keon Johnson had a frustrating game against South Carolina with four fouls and five turnovers in 20 minutes. But he had a phenomenal game passing the ball and Fulkerson was the primary beneficiary.
Fulkerson was on the receiving end of four of Johnson’s five assists, which matched the freshman’s season high. Tennessee had 26 assists, seven of which occurred on Fulkerson’s field goals.
Johnson and Fulkerson connected for the main highlight, as Fulkerson streaked down the court in transition. Johnson popped a pass between two Gamecocks and Fulkerson had a lefthanded dunk.
But Johnson and Jaden Springer also did well getting Fulkerson the ball in the half-court. Fulkerson’s first field goal was terrific and well-executed by Springer, who got the ball to Fulkerson in the middle of the USC zone. The senior faked a shot, dribbled in the other direction and was free down the lane.
What getting involved looks like for John Fulkerson
“What that looks like for me is getting drop-offs, transition and offensive rebounds, running the floor. Things like that. Plays that don’t take skill that you can just do by energy and effort and hustle. Those are really the easiest baskets to get.” — Fulkerson
Fulkerson made his name last season as a menace who hustled, frustrated and outworked opponents. He did a good bit of that against the Gamecocks — even when it didn’t lead to a made field goal.
Midway through the second half, Fulkerson tipped out a rebound after Springer missed a jumper. He ended up taking a second-chance shot on a faceup jumper that missed. He also had a solid post move that led to a high-release jumper a few possessions later.
But one of Fulkerson’s best possessions was with less than six minutes left. Yves Pons grabbed a rebound, Fulkerson sprinted down the middle of the court and posted up Wildens Leveque. He hollered at Santiago Vescovi to pass the ball and drew a foul on the Gamecocks forward.
It was a classic Fulkerson possession and a way he got involved in the offense without needing the ball.
Run, Fulky, run
“I think LSU and this game were the two hardest games he ran this season. Run in transition, run to the rim after screens. Run to the offensive glass.” — English
Barnes praised Fulkerson on Monday for a three-minute spurt he played a LSU on Saturday when he ran the court well. He ran in multiple ways Wednesday, leading to opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Fulkerson burst down the court after a missed USC free throw in the second half.
He converted a difficult lob from Johnson. Then Fulkerson tossed a long pass to Springer for a layup on the following possession.
His work off screens was tremendous.
Fulkerson set a screen for Victor Bailey Jr. in the final minute of the first half, then sprinted down the lane. Bailey wrapped a bounce pass around South Carolina’s Keshawn Bryant to Fulkerson, who made the layup after beating Seventh Woods to the rim.
He also set a fine screen for Johnson, then rolled to the rim for a lob.