SEC Basketball: 5 biggest questions for rest of 2019-20 season

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: Ashton Hagans #0, Immanuel Quickley #5, EJ Montgomery #23, Tyrese Maxey #3 and Nate Sestina #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats walk back on the court after a timeout in their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena on December 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buckeyes defeated the Wildcats 71-65. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 24: Lamonte Turner #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

1. Is Tennessee still an NCAA Tournament team without Lamonte Turner?

Travis

At the beginning of the season, one of my three bold predictions was that Tennessee wouldn’t make the tournament this season, that was with Lamonte Turner. Now, without Turner, I think it is even less likely they make it. With losses already to decent teams such as Florida State and then Memphis as well, plus a loss against Cincinnati, the Vols have yet to prove that they can win quality games. With that being said, I don’t see Tennessee making it to the Big Dance as they will likely drop several conference games.

Rauf

They may sneak in, but it would only be based on the games they won when he was healthy. He was the only guy who could create his own shot or create for others. Without him, they lack any sort of offensive playmakers. Scoring points is going to be a legitimate struggle for them without him.

Wilkerson

If their performance against Wisconsin is any indication of what the rest of the season will look like, the answer is no. However, there are still some reasons for optimism. The Vols have solid building blocks in Bowden, Fulkerson, and Pons. What would go a long way towards helping them will be some quick growing up by Davonte Gaines, the true freshman who has replaced Turner in the lineup or possibly a boost from Uruguay transplant Santiago Vescovi who just arrived on campus and is awaiting NCAA clearance. Also, it’s important to remember that this is not last year’s SEC and there are several teams who can compete for a spot in the upper half of the league.

DiSturco

No. Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament hopes have all but dissipated without their main facilitator and leader. If Saturday’s 20-point loss to Wisconsin on its home floor was any indication for how Tennessee will be without Turner – who led the team with 7.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game – competitive games may come sparse. The Volunteers have little-to-no offense, relying on its athleticism and defense to edge out close games.

Even with Turner on the court running the offense, Tennessee’s turned the ball over on nearly 20 percent of possessions, shot 29.7 percent from 3 and just 49.9 percent from inside the arc, per Kenpom.com. All of those rank outside the top 140. Expect a regression from the offense and Tennessee to struggle to maintain an above .500 record without Turner.

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