Tennessee Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24

Power Forward

Starter – Tobe Awaka (25 mpg)

Tobe Awaka is a 6-foot-8 prospect with the potential to fill the void for the Volunteers at the starting power forward role. He put up decent production this past season in his debut in the SEC with 3.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg on 59.2 percent shooting from the floor. While his production doesn’t show it, the potential for him to be a defensive stopper looms large.

Across 34 appearances in 2022-23, he registered a defensive rating of 87.4 and an offensive rating of 122.5. On Team USA U19 squad in the FIBA World Cup, he was one of three players who averaged a double-double with 11.6 ppg and 10.6 rpg on 60 percent shooting from the field. He’s got an opportunity to be quite the breakout performer in the starting lineup for Tennessee as he enters his second season on a roster with not much depth/experience in the frontcourt.

Bench – Dalton Knecht (15 mpg)

Dalton Knecht should see the bulk of his minutes at the backup power forward role. He could interchange to the small forward/wing role very easily with Josiah-Jordan James in the fold at the other forward spot. While undersized, Knecht still has a strong frame at 204 which has allowed him to operate in the paint as a rebounder. He snagged 7.2 rpg this past season in the Big Sky.

He’ll look to shore things up for the Volunteers with his abilities on the glass at the backup power-forward spot in 2023-24. He’ll stretch the floor with his ability to knock down shots on the perimeter as well. He finished third in the Big Sky this past season in 3-pointers made (77).