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Tennessee Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Volunteers

By Richard Gnann

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the game against the LSU Tigers during the quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the game against the LSU Tigers during the quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 09: Hubbs III
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 09: Hubbs III /

Returning Players

Tennessee basketball returns a proven group of upperclassmen for 2018. Sophomore forward Grant Williams leads the way after averaging 12.6 points,  5.9 rebounds, 61 blocks in 32 games and earning 2017 SEC All-Freshman Team honors.

Sophomore guards Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowden started a combined 45 games in 2017 while redshirt sophomore guard Lamonte Turner had a team-high 86 assists and averaged 8.2 points in 32 appearances last season as well.

Also, the Vols return a trio of redshirt freshmen in power forward John Fulkerson, guard Jalen Johnson and guard Jacob Fleschman to take note of.

John Fulkerson

Fulkerson saw action last year, appearing in 10 games and averaging 4.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 16.0 minutes per game before suffering a season-ending elbow injury.

“We need to get John Fulkerson back,” Barnes told the Knoxville News. “There’s no doubt he will add a dimension to our team that we need.”

A pair of injuries limited Fulkerson in preseason practices. Following the elbow injury and surgery that ended his 2017 season, Fulkerson tore the labrum in his left shoulder in the spring. He is now recovering from the second surgery.

“He’s had two pretty tough injuries,” Barnes said. “We are not going to force it too quick. We know he will get it back. He is doing some things. But he’s not allowed to go full contact yet.”

Barnes previously said he expects Fulkerson will be “back full go” by the end of October.

“It’s going to take him some time,” Barnes said. “You can’t miss that much then pop right back in. He’ll get it back. It’s just a matter of when that we get him going again and get everybody healthy.”

Admiral Schofield

Junior Admiral Schofield averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds per game as an undersized power forward in 2017. He is now playing at the small forward spot. How well and how quickly he transitions to the new position and role will have a lot to say about Tennessee’s season.

Said Barnes, “[Schofield] must learn how to keep the ball moving and not over dribble or over pass. The real question is whether or not he can defend how we need him to defend on the perimeter”

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