When we last discussed Tennessee basketball, the team was placed No. 18 in the early top 25 rankings. However, since then, they have been rising steadily.
The Volunteers are ranked No. 13 in the most recent ESPN way-to-early top 25, with Texas A&M at No. 12 and Arkansas at No. 14. Dalton Knect, who was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Draft and is presently dominating the NBA Summer League, is a prime example of the tremendous work Rick Barnes has done with this Tennessee squad.
By breaking even with the players he lost this past summer, Barnes made a big splash on the transfer portal. Any number of player losses is painful, but the Volunteers were fortunate to lose just four this offseason, allowing Barnes to add four more players to help offset the loss.
Tennessee still boasts a talented squad despite losing Knect, the genuine leader of the Volunteers and their top scorer. Zakai Zeigler (11.8 PPG), Ohio State transfer Felix Okpara (6.6 PPG), Hofstra transfer Darlinstone Dubar (17.8 PPG), UNF transfer Chaz Lanier (19.7 PPG), and Jahmai Mashack (4.5 PPG) were projected by ESPN to be their starting five.
Tennessee earned nearly the top seed overall in March Madness last season and was long-term favorites to win the National Championship. In the SEC Tournament, the Volunteers did falter a little bit, but they still went on to win the Elite Eight, losing to Purdue, who advanced to the National Championship.
Lanier and Dubar’s acquisitions will have a major impact on the Volunteers’ scoring ability. Barnes successfully secured Lanier, one of the transfer portal’s most sought-after sharpshooters. Both guys will be tremendous assets who ought to start having an impact right away.
With any luck, Tennessee will finish the season where they left off, if not better, and will be aiming for a National Championship title rather than simply an appearance.
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