Tennessee basketball's Jahmai Mashack felt disrespected. Texas' Tre Johnson paid the price
NASHVILLE — Rod Clark dipped into his Kansas City Chiefs fandom Friday.
The Tennessee basketball assistant coach pulled up a video of former Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed yelling as he guarded a wide receiver, expressing himself after he felt snubbed of 2024 postseason honors.
Clark sent the video to Jahmai Mashack, who related to the emotion.
“It was a fire that he had,” Mashack said. “He felt like he was disrespected kind of the way I am defensively. I want to be able to show everyone what I can do.”
Clark threw gasoline on the competitive fire in Mashack and Mashack burned the Longhorns at Bridgestone Arena.
The senior guard clamped down on Texas star guard Tre Johnson, holding the high-scoring freshman to 11 points as No. 4 seed Tennessee (26-6) beat No. 13 Texas 83-72 to advance to the SEC tournament semifinals against No. 1 seed Auburn (28-4) on Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN).
Why Jahmai Mashack coveted opportunity to face Texas, Tre Johnson
Mashack was rooting for Texas (19-15) against Texas A&M on Thursday. Ask anyone in the Vols locker room, he said. He wanted this matchup and got what he wanted when the Longhorns won 94-89 in double overtime.
“I was cheering for Texas because I wanted the chance to guard Tre Johnson again,” Mashack said. “I love going against individuals that are great scorers.”
Johnson scored 27 points in Tennessee’s 74-70 win at Texas on Jan. 11 when Mashack was hampered by foul trouble. He played 21 minutes.
Mashack craved a different story Friday.
“He didn’t say too many words,” Tennessee senior guard Zakai Zeigler guard. “I could see it in his face and his eyes that he was super excited for this matchup. Shack went out there and guarded him.”
Mashack turned in a classic performance — and then some. He outscored Johnson. He had 13 points and seven rebounds.
With Mashack as his primary obstacle, Johnson entered averaging 20.1 points on 16.2 field-goal attempts. He had 11 points on 3-for-8 shooting. He was held to 11 of fewer points for the fifth time in 31 games. He attempted his second-fewest field goals in a game and his three 3-point attempts matched his season-low.
“The shots he made, all of them were tough,” Vols associate head coach Justin Gainey said.
Jahmai Mashack: 'What I do can't be replicated'
Mashack is a master at knowing an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses offensively.
Sitting in the corner of Tennessee’s locker room, Mashack recited Johnson’s scouting report. He doesn’t overcomplicate his game and won’t force shots. He gets to his spots without wasting movements with the ball. His release point makes him a tough guard.
Mashack took it all away.
“I really wanted to show why I am so important defensively,” Mashack said. “What I do can’t be replicated. I put in the work. I watch film. I look at shot charts. I look at guys’ hand movements — I look at bad games and good games.”
Mashack had something to prove against Texas. He was proud that Zeigler won SEC defensive player of the year for the second time. Likewise, he wanted the award and balanced his love for Zeigler and pride in his game.
The latter showed against Johnson.
Mashack is in the elite class of defenders in college basketball — a widely known truth around Tennessee in the SEC. He still holds that he has to earn his position in that conversation, which built his desire to face Johnson and lay claim to his standing again.
“I always feel like I am slighted,” Mashack said. “What I do isn’t glorified. It is not going to be. … It is the sacrifice I decided to make in order to be great in this basketball game.”
He was undoubtedly great in this basketball game.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee's Jahmai Mashack shut down Texas' Tre Johnson in SEC tournament
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