Tennessee Basketball: Looks like the Vols are underrated again
Tennessee basketball is not ranked in the preseason top 25, but that’s ok. If everyone wants to underrate us again, then we’ll prove them wrong again.
Rick Barnes is one of the most consistent coaches in college basketball. He’s gotten Tennessee to a point where they’re one of the most consistent basketball programs in college basketball.
2019-20 will be the first time he’s really tested on how good of a coach he really is. Tennessee’s three best players graduated and are now playing at the professional level.
Barnes has to find a way to get the Vols back to their winning ways from the previous couple of seasons without their star players.
They will have to do it this year without being ranked in the top 25 to start the season. I find that pretty disrespectful, but hey, if they don’t want to pick us, then we will just have to prove them wrong again.
The good thing for Barnes is that there are still some really good players on Tennessee that didn’t graduate. Some knockdown shooters in Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner. A big man that’s growing into his new role in John Fulkerson. You can now throw some elite freshmen into the mix, as well.
Without Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone, and Kyle Alexander, the Vols are expected to finish about midway in the SEC. Initially, it’s a fair projection when you see all the production that left.
What that doesn’t pick up is how good Josiah-Jordan James is and that he is a game-changer. This Tennessee team may not look good at a glance, but they’re still one of the best teams in the SEC.
I expect nothing worse than a top-three finish in the SEC for Tennessee this year. They might not have their experienced guys returning, but they still have a lot of talent on their roster.
The Vols’ motto for the past few years has been “Don’t Pick Us” and if the BasketVols continue to be underrated like they are right now.
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The Vols have a lot to prove. Not only to Tennessee fans that they can win without the previous group here, but also to the country. Not much is expected out of Tennessee this year, but TBA will be rocking, so this will be the year for the Vols to shock the country.