Tennessee Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Volunteers

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images /

Key reserves

The reserve unit for the Tennessee Volunteers is led by Lamonte Turner. Turner was named the 2018 SEC Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 2017-18. He did work for Tennessee off the bench last year after shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range in 35 appearances. Turner led the team in 3-pointers made (70) and averaged 2.0 makes from behind the arc last year.

He’ll be joined by in the frontcourt by forwards Derrick Walker and John Fulkerson, two sophomores on the rise. Walker put up 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game across 8.9 minutes of action through 34 appearances as a freshman. Fulkerson produced 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest through 30 appearances. He played in just 9.3 minutes per game during his freshman season.

6-foot-5 sophomore Yves Pons and 6-foot-6 guard Jalen Johnson are also set to get some time off the bench after playing sparingly in 2017-18. They’ll be looked upon to be defensive sparks but their offense is also projected to improve.

The Tennessee Volunteers weren’t the deepest team last season and it showed in their loss during the NCAA Tournament. This season, they have experience on their side. If they can find more scoring success from the reserves, they could find themselves in the Sweet 16 or better come March.

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