Tyreke Key, Tennessee transfer guard, explains biggest difference between mid-major and power-conference hoops
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Tyreke Key decided to head back home following 4 strong playing years at Indiana State. The Celina, Tennessee native missed his 2021-22 season with an injury and decided to transfer back to play for the Vols at the end of last season.
Key, who was described by Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua as a ‘pure-bred bucket,’ has a lot to prove in Orange and White, but there’s a major learning curve ahead of him.
After all, this is the SEC. While Cinderellas dance with the big boys in March, the vast majority of mid-major players rarely face competition as stout as what Tennessee faces every season.
He spoke on the difference that he has noticed in practice already.
#Vols guard Tyreke Key on the difference between mid-major hoops and power-conference hoops: It’s the big men. Everybody’s got good, fast guards. But you don’t see many big men there like the big men here. They’re huge, they can move, they step out and shoot. It’s different.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) October 4, 2022
There are very (if any) few big men at the level of Azuolas Tubelis or Oscar Tshiebwe in the MVC (Missouri Valley Conference). Key will have to face off against both of them in 2022-23, among others.
Tennessee basketball tips off in just over a month on Nov. 7.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
