Tennessee basketball officially began preseason practice on Tuesday with its season opener against Gardner Webb less than six weeks away.
The Vols return a few key players from last season’s SEC Championship and Elite Eight team, but there’s five newcomers on the roster and an abundance of players stepping into new roles this season.
Here’s a look at three Tennessee basketball questions as they march closer-and-closer to the season.
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Who Creates Offense Besides Zakai Zeigler?
Tennessee added an abundance of shooting to its roster via the transfer portal this offseason. That alone should help Tennessee’s offense offset the loss of Dalton Knecht to the NBA.
It’s also a smart way to build its roster around All-SEC point guard Zakai Zeigler. The senior isn’t just one of the best point guards in the SEC but one of the best point guards in the country. Building a roster that can thrive around him is smart.
But Zeigler is also 5-foot-9 and we saw, albeit a worse Zeigler, struggle two years ago when he was forced to create in end of shot clock situations.
So who besides Zeigler steps up as a player that can create his own shot off the dribble and make opponents worry? North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier would have been the hope but I’m not sure he’s athletic enough to do so at this level. Charlotte transfer Igor Milicic would be my best guess. I’m very confident in his ability as a transition scorer but am still a bit hesitant of what he’ll do in transition.
Then what about Cam Carr? He showed promise as a freshman and has enough athleticism to give defenses issues. More on him in a bit.
What Does The Front Court Rotation Look Like?
What Tennessee’s backcourt rotation will look like feels pretty set in stone given it’s still September. And I’d be floored if Milicic and Ohio State transfer Felix Okpara aren’t the front court starters— in fact I think they’ll be Tennessee’s best front court since Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander.
But behind Milicic and Okpara? That’s where I’m uncertain.
JP Estrella will certainly have a role but what exactly what looks uncertain given he’s banged up and not full-go to this point in the preseason. Hofstra transfer Darlinstone Dubar has the versatility to play the four-spot but I’m currently skeptical of him earning a huge role.
My guess would be that sophomore Cade Phillips ends up being the fourth big man. His ability to hit shots from the perimeter with some consistency is a huge question as to whether Tennessee can have four starters on the court that defenses fear.
Does Tennessee Get Second Year Jumps?
We’ve mentioned briefly Tennessee’s three sophomores on this team— Estrella, Carr and Phillips. I think all three players are going to be in the rotation but how improved they are from their freshman seasons are the big questions.
Estrella and Carr seem like the most likely candidates to be breakout stars and to truly change the ceiling of this Tennessee team. But serious strides from Phillips would also be a big plus for the Vols. Those three are, in large part, the future of Tennessee basketball after this season. How much they can improve this season is significant both in the short term and long term.
Lastly, how much better does Jordan Gainey get? He’s a senior but is in just his second season in Tennessee’s program. He started to play his best basketball at the end of the season. The Vols need that to continue.
