NCAA Basketball: Ranking the top 25 team backcourts for 2022-23 season

Star freshman Kennedy Chandler is off to the NBA but his backup is still around in Zakai Zeigler. The 5’9 playmaker was a surprise freshman contributor, averaging 8.8 ppg and 2.7 apg off the bench and taking over for Justin Powell in the rotation. He’s the likely starting point guard and very capable of running the offense.

Alongside him is Santiago Vescovi, the team’s second-leading scorer at 13.3 ppg on 40% from deep on over seven attempts a game. The shooting guard also averaged over 3.0 apg and can also handle the ball and share the lead guard duties next to Zeigler.

Although I’m not including five-star freshman forward Julian Phillips, I am having returning guard  Josiah-Jordan James in the mix. The 6’6 guard averaged a career-high 10.3 ppg last season as a starter but is known for being a capable defender and elite rebounder for someone his size, with a career rpg number of 6.0.

And bolstering the scoring production is Tyreke Key, a 6’3 guard transfer from Indiana State. In four years, he averaged over 14 ppg, including 17.2 ppg in his last healthy campaign (missed all of last season). Key is a solid shooter from the field, including 37% from deep, and could be a quality 6th Man option for Tennessee off the bench and provide a scoring punch.

Add four-star incoming freshmen BJ Edwards and DJ Jefferson and you have a quality backcourt core to contend in the SEC.