Witness the Rise of Darlinstone Dubar - A Game-Changer for Tennessee Basketball

First Impressions and Early Moments

On Thursday, Darlinstone Dubar hung from the rim, making an immediate impact. In just 24 seconds of game time, he showed his defensive prowess and then slammed a second-chance bucket on the offensive end against Virginia in the Baha Mar Championship. This was a sweet welcome for the Hofstra transfer.

As the No. 9 Vols (5-0) routed Virginia 64 - 42 in their first game, Dubar scored four points and had three rebounds in 10 minutes. His return fortified Tennessee's post rotations with J.P. Estrella sidelined with a left foot injury. He played the four-spot whenever on the court, paired with Felix Okpara in his first shift and slid to the five with Igor Milicic Jr. late in the first half. He also played alongside Cade Phillips in the second half.

The Skills He Brings to the Team

One of the skills Dubar declared he could bring to the Vols was shown on his first offensive possession against Virginia. He curled toward the elbow, saw guard Jahmai Mashack heading for a layup and crashed for the rebound. The 6 - foot - 6 Dubar got it, dunking Mashack's miss for his first points, demonstrating his scoring and rebounding prowess that he showed at Hofstra.

Versatility is another attribute of Dubar, who averaged 17.8 points and 6.8 rebounds last season. His size and strength provided a good matchup in the first half. He's known for good 3 - point shooting, shooting 38.1% in his career before transferring to UT. His floor - stretching ability helps with guard Cam Carr out four to six weeks with a thumb injury.

Coach's Perspective and Pride

Vols coach Rick Barnes was proud of Dubar. "Really proud of him," Barnes said. "He has only had two days of practice." Dubar hadn't played in a game since UT's charity exhibition loss to Indiana on Oct. 27 but ramped up his participation in the past two weeks. He returned to the court on Nov. 11, two days after Tennessee's 77 - 55 win against Louisville and mostly did individual work before going to the Bahamas.

During the game, Dubar checked in at the 15 - minute mark Thursday. After his dunk, he got a defensive rebound and attempted a 3 - pointer before returning to the bench after a 4 - minute, 19 - second shift in his debut. He came back in for the final 4:10 of the half, with another defensive rebound and a layup off an inbounds play. He closed the game after not playing for the first 18:03 of the second half.