Tennessee Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

Shooting Guard

Starter: Victor Bailey Jr

After averaging 10.9 PPG a year ago in his first season in Knoxville, Victor Bailey Jr will remain as a focal point of the Volunteers 2021-22 roster.

After transferring from Oregon, and sitting out the 2019-20 season, Bailey ranked third in scoring for the Volunteers a year ago. Drawing the start in 12 of 27 games, the senior is the most experienced member of the deep Tennessee backcourt going into the 2021-22 campaign.

Bailey brings proven scoring abilities with starting and reserve experience, as well as a solid three-point shooter. Bailey’s ability to get to the free-throw line will also benefit the Volunteers this season, as he is a career 86.5% shooter from the charity stripe.

While head coach Rick Barnes will have other options to start at shooting guard, the starting role to begin the 2021-22 campaign should go to Bailey.

Backup: Justin Powell/Quentin Diboundje

One of the more intriguing players on this Tennessee roster comes from Auburn transfer guard Justin Powell. Appearing in 10 games with the Tigers a season ago, Powell averaged 11/6/4 acting as Auburn’s starting point guard to begin the season before suffering an injury.

With point guard occupied for the Volunteers with the previously mentioned Chandler and Vescovi, shooting guard makes the most sense for Powell to find his way onto the court. While Bailey should start the season at shooting guard, don’t be surprised if Powell finds his way into the starting lineup at some point.

Freshman Quentin Diboundje could also see occasional time in the rotation. A talented wing who spent last season at Montverde Academy (FL), Diboundje is originally from Montpellier, France.