Tennessee basketball lost four players to the transfer portal this offseason with by far the most noteworthy losses being big men Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka.

While both were significant losses, the Vols have a strong plan to replace them. Rick Barnes and his coaching staff are high on rising sophomore power forward JP Estrella and the Maine native will step into a bigger role next season.

Then Tennessee went out and landed a near consensus top 50 player in the transfer portal— Ohio State center Felix Okpara.

A rising junior, Okpara started 34 games for Ohio State last season and is one of the best defensive big men in the entire country— let alone the transfer portal.

“He brings us a physicality that we love to have and haven’t consistently had there,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes at the Big Orange Caravan last week. “I think with what we’ve seen and what we evaluated, I think he’s got some untapped ability there offensively. He runs, he’s strong and being around him, he impressed me with the fact that he’s got a really competitive edge about him that’s going to fit in well with our guys.”

Okpara blocked 83 shots last season and was one of just five players in the country that blocked over 80 shots last season. The 6-foot-11 center posted a 10.25% block rate last season, a mark that ranked 18th nationally.

More From RTI: How Felix Okpara Compares To Jonas Aidoo And Tobe Awaka

Aidoo was also a strong rim protector against driving big men but was to slender to successful defend physical low post scorers. Awaka had the physicality to defend low post scorers but was frequently in foul trouble. He was average at protecting the rim against driving guards.

Okpara’s skillset on the defensive end is a blend of the outgoing transfers with length to protect the rim and better defensive strength.

Playing 23.6 minutes per game, Okpara averaged 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He has a physicality around the rim that makes him effective defensively and as a rebounder and low post finisher.

“He’s like a lot of guys his size,” Barnes said. “He’s just kind of scratching the surface in terms of where he can be, but he showed us that he can do a lot and we’re going to try and not put him in a box and get him to do maybe more than he might think he can.”

Okpara is still very raw offensively and was mostly a dunker and lob threat as a sophomore at Ohio State. He didn’t attempt jump shots and was not effective as a back to the basket scorer.

Discussing his commitment with RTI, Okpara discussed his desire to round out his offensive game. Barnes echoed that same sentiment while discussing the 6-foot-11 center.

Karen Weekly could only describe it as “euphoria.”

The Tennessee softball coach watched her team dash around Sherri Lee Parker Stadium. Weekly did the “griddy,” the dance her players taught her for moments like these. Mid-interview, she was kissed by two of her players not too long after she was doused with Gatorade while beaming alongside her Lady Vols family. 

This unbridled happiness could be spawned only by making history. 

No. 3 Tennessee won back-to-back SEC regular-season championships for the first time in program history, beating No. 24 Kentucky 8-3 on Friday to clinch the series win.

“It feels absolutely amazing,” Weekly said. “I’m just so happy for them because they’re the ones that have to go out there . . . to find a way and get this done. I’m just overjoyed for them.

“I told them, ‘You’re back-to-back regular-season champions in the toughest conference in America, that’s something to be super proud of.’”

UT (39-9, 18-5) clinched the regular-season title outright after Texas A&M dropped its series opener Friday. Kentucky is 30-20, 8-15.

In the Lady Vols’ win, Kiki Milloy had a home run and team-high three RBIs, and Karlyn Pickens arrived in relief as she struck out five and allowed no hits or runs in four innings. This is the sophomore’s 18th win of the season. 

How a ‘reset’ helped Kiki Milloy

Milloy, a graduate outfielder, had a magical senior season last year. She hit .406 and set three Tennessee single-season records with 25 homers, 86 runs scored and a .929 slugging percentage. 

This season has been more up-and-down; she is hitting .362 and has 11 home runs. It didn’t help that she missed a series against Georgia after she rolled her ankle. She has remained a steadying presence as a leader, but it’s understood that her play is essential for Tennessee to excel in the playoffs. 

“You learn about people when things don’t go perfect,” Weekly said. “That’s the real measure of who you are as a competitor and really who you are as a human being.” 

No one at Tennessee is surprised to learn Milloy perseveres. After trailing 3-2 after three innings, Milloy drilled a three-run homer, her 11th of the season, to deep center field, which helped the Lady Vols regain control of the game and galvanize the team and the fans. 

“She had her struggles this year but what a champion,” Weekly said. “Things weren’t easy but she just dug in . . . now she’s getting her stroke back. Boy, we need it and that was a huge dagger.”

“Kiki plays a huge role for our team,” Pickens said. “Always just getting the momentum going and she always steps up in big situations like that.”

Milloy said that a major reason she was able to have her first home run since April 23 and second three-RBI game of the year is because of her injury, which she described as a “blessing in disguise.”

“It was a good reset for me because at that point in the season, I wasn’t really playing the way I wanted to play,” she said. 

She never would wish to be sidelined, she said, but not playing helped her be more mentally secure. 

“Taking that time to step back and reevaluate and kind of realize this is my last season, I don’t need to put as much pressure on myself,” she said. “I think that just really helps.”

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Tennessee overcame a 3-0 deficit, scoring 8 unaswered runs to defeat the Wildcats 8-3 on Friday night. The win gives the Lady Vols a second straight SEC Regular Season Championship.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, Tennessee pulled within a run with RBI singles from Sophia Nugent and Taylor Pannell.

The Lady Vols took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run Kiki Milloy home run.

The home run gave Milloy the program record for career total bases.

Karlyn Pickens earned the win, pitching four shutout innings, striking out five Kentucky batters.

With Florida’s win over Texas A&M the Lady Vols have clinched the outright SEC Regular Season title.

Tennessee closes the regular season tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., looking for a sweep of Kentucky.

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