The SEC has considerably strengthened in recent years but Rick Barnes has ensured that Tennessee is a major part of that equation. The Volunteers have finished Top 4 in the SEC in seven of the last eight seasons, with the final leg of Barnes’ long coaching career producing some inspiring results from Knoxville.
This past season, Tennessee won 30 games for the second time during Barnes’ decade with the program. They hung tough in a conference that sent 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament and made their own postseason run, advancing to the Elite Eight for the second season in a row. A tough performance against Houston in that final game doomed the Volunteers from their first ever Final Four appearance.
Roster churn is the new normal in college basketball, but Tennessee is shedding some very notable faces from the program. Leading scorer Chaz Lanier is gone after just one season in Knoxville, but longtime point guard Zakai Zeigler and his leadership will certainly be missed by the Volunteers. Barnes and company lost Jordan Gainey and Igor Milicic and a few other names as well, but their efforts to rebuild this roster haven’t gone in vain.
What kind of a team will Tennessee field this upcoming season with all these changes? Well, the Volunteers won’t have the same talent but should still play a role in the SEC race yet again. We’re going to look through the important faces on the roster, the notable games in the months ahead, and start thinking about just what could be in store for the faithful in Knoxville.
Projected Starters
Guard – Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Senior)
One of the biggest offseason additions in the SEC, Gillespie is a talented point guard originally from Tennessee how starred at Belmont and Maryland in seasons past before finding his way to Knoxville. After earning All-MVC honors with the Bruins, he was Third Team All-Big Ten last year for the Terrapins, putting up 14.7 points and 4.8 assists per game while knocking down more than 40% of his long-range attempts. He’s not Zeigler but he’s a fantastic athlete to take his place this season leading the charge.
Guard – Amaree Abram (Senior)
It’s year four and school number four for Abram, a former Top 100 recruit and talented guard who finally hit his stride last season. After previous work at Ole Miss and Georgia Tech, Abram averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game at Louisiana Tech, knocking down 37% of his 3-pointers for the Bulldogs. He’ll transition into a major role in Tennessee’s backcourt and should continue to grow as an on-ball defender.
Forward – Nate Ament (Freshman)
A consensus Top 5 prospect in this recruiting class, Ament is considered one of the best frontcourt prospects in the country and a steal for the Volunteers, who added him late in the recruiting process. Ament has excellent size and ball handling ability for a forward and already has the potential to be a deadly shooter outside the arc. If he can continue building strength then the Volunteers have a major force in the frontcourt.
Forward – Cade Phillips (Junior)
A tough 6-9 forward from Alabama, Phillips has battled for time with the Volunteers, serving as an important reserve during last season’s success. His sophomore year saw him average 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench while making 63% of his field goal attempts. Many expect him to take a step forward with this opportunity, especially if he keeps growing into a solid shot blocker after decent metrics last season.
Center – Felix Okpara (Senior)
Quite possibly the best returner from last season, Okpara is a 6-11 center from Nigeria who fit in nicely at the back end for the Volunteers. A former Top 75 recruit who transferred from Ohio State, his first year at Tennessee saw him average 7.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a game while knocking down 59% of his field goal attempts. His presence will be just as important for the defense as a senior.
Key Reserves
Guard – Amari Evans (Freshman)
Evans is a 6-5 wing out of Atlanta who’s considered a Top 50 recruit among the freshmen this year. His size, physical ability, and maturity really stand out even as a freshman. What’s excited scouts in recent months has been his physicality on the defensive end and embracing that will certainly earn him favor and minutes with Barnes and this staff.
Guard – Bishop Boswell (Sophomore)
An important piece of last season’s recruiting class, Boswell saw limited run as a freshman on a very talented Volunteers squad but has opportunities ahead of him. A 6-4 guard from Charlotte, he played in most games for Tennessee last season but had limited minutes, with just 7 points and 14 assists for the season. He’s a strong presence and aggressive defender who should see important reserve minutes.
Guard – Clarence Massamba (Freshman)
Massamba is a 6-5 combo guard from Monaco with the size and athleticism to become an elite defender down the line. The real opportunity comes on the offensive end, as the Volunteers are rebuilding this backcourt and could certainly use Massamba’s scoring threat. He rates as a very solid rebounder on both ends as well, especially for a guard.
Forward – DeWayne Brown II (Freshman)
A 6-8 center out of Hoover, Alabama, Brown might fly under the radar compared to some of the other pieces of Tennessee’s recruiting class, but the Volunteers might have something special here. Brown has outstanding size and width and is a scrappy, physical defender, though he still has plenty of work to do offensively, with dodgy numbers from the charity stripe and outside the arc. Regardless, his defensive presence could score him minutes as a true freshman.
Forward – J. P. Estrella (Sophomore)
We didn’t see much of Estrella last season after a foot injury limited him to just three games early in the season. However, the 6-11 forward and former 4-star recruit is someone that the Volunteers are hoping can give serious run in this frontcourt. Estrella has made 70% of his field goals in limited opportunities in his career and should develop into an above average rebounder and shot blocker this season.
Forward – Jaylen Carey (Junior)
Another valuable addition from the transfer portal, Carey is a 6-8 forward out of Florida who spent the last two seasons with Mark Byington, first at James Madison and then Vanderbilt. He came off the bench and helped a breakout season for the Commodores while averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. There’s a potential for starters level minutes here, especially if he can be a great defensive presence for the Volunteers.
Schedule Outlook
Many eyes in Knoxville will be on an exhibition matchup against Duke in late October, but when the games start counting it’s all about the Players Era Championship. After a sea of home games, the Volunteers head to Las Vegas and will play Rutgers, Houston, and a third team during that event.
An equally eventful December will start with a road test at Syracuse as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Just a few days later, they’ll face a talented Illinois team in Nashville for Music City Madness. The last major test in nonconference play is a home date with Louisville on December 16 before SEC play starts right after New Year’s.
Odds are the SEC won’t get 14 teams in the NCAA Tournament again, but this is still a ridiculous talented league. The Volunteers notably head to Florida to face the defending national champions early in that schedule for their only matchup with the Gators. They get two shots apiece at both Alabama and Kentucky and will end the regular season at home against rival Vanderbilt on March 7.
Season Outlook
When you’re trying to replace as much production as Tennessee lost in the offseason it’s fair to expect the Volunteers to take a step back. This team advanced to the Elite Eight for a second year in a row and lost their veteran point guard, great leading scorer, and a few other valuable pieces. However, there’s no funeral in Knoxville and the new pieces are more than enough to elevate this team back into SEC contention.
The most important move was adding Gillespie as he is an elite ball handler, scorer, and presence for the Volunteers. His offensive game is significantly ahead of what Ziegler brought to town in recent years, but it’s all about if he can be the same type of physical defender. After all, Barnes’ system is about defense even if that means some ugly games happen along the way.
Dalton Knecht is a distant memory and Lanier graduated, meaning there might be a new face who stands out as the scoring stud for the Volunteers. A highly regarded prospect like Ament could certainly fulfill part of that role, though don’t be surprised if someone like Abram and Carey really stand out in their first chances with the Volunteers.
Okpara helms a frontcourt built on potential behind him. Carey can really play, but we’re going to learn a lot about Estrella and Phillips with the opportunities that could be afforded to them this season. Tennessee loves both of those forwards and their importance cannot be understated.
When you put it all together, Tennessee has a few incredible players leading the charge in a pretty talented rotation, but taking a step back from last season wouldn’t be a shocker. There’s no telling where this team could be once momentum builds and chemistry develops. The Volunteers look a strong contender in the SEC and a team worth of preseason rankings, but they’re going to need someone like Abram or Phillips to take that big step.