The Sports Bank’s college basketball season previews undergo a face lift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference. I’ve already counted down the Pac-12 and Big 12 now we turn our attention to the SEC.
Even with their NCAA Tournament run, Cuonzo Martin headed west to Cal and Tennessee Volunteers hired Southern Miss head coach Donnie Tyndall. He must replace four starters and mix seven new faces into the lineup but has the talent to get the Vols back to the Big Dance.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Last Season: 4th, 11-7 in SEC, 24-13 overall
Predicted SEC Finish: 6th
Projected Depth Chart
C: Dominic Woodson (So)
F: Armani Moore (Jr)/Derek Reese (Jr)/Tariq Owens (Fr)/Willie Carmichael (Fr)/Jabari McGhee (Fr)
G/F: Robert Hubbs (So)/Devon Baulkman (Jr)
SG: Josh Richardson (Sr)/Detrick Mostella (Fr)
PG: Ian Chiles (Sr)/Kevin Punter (Jr)/Brandon Lopez (Jr)
Gone: PF-Jarnell Stokes, PF-Jeronne Maymon, SG-Jordan McRae, PG-Antonio Barton, G/F-D’Montre Edwards, C-Rawane Ndiaye, PG-Darius Thompson (transfer-Virginia), SF-A.J. Davis (transfer-UCF), SG-Quinton Chievous (transfer-Hampton)
2014-2015 Outlook:
Of the returning players, I am expecting a breakout senior season from Josh Richardson who had a magnificent NCAA Tournament. The Vols need him to become the primary scoring option in an effort to replace Jordan McRae.
Richardson won’t have to do it all himself though as IUPUI transfer Ian Chiles provides an immediate boost. He is by no means a true distributor but gets thrust into the point guard role since the Vols don’t have many other options. Robert Hubbs was putting together a solid freshman season prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury and needs to be a more impactful player as a sophomore as does Armani Moore who could actually start if Tyndall chooses to use a smaller, four-guard line-up.
Tennessee will rely on a pair of junior college transfers, Kevin Punter and Devon Baulkman to provide depth in the backcourt. Freshman Detrick Mostella could also factor into the equation.
The Vols have huge shoes to fill in the middle as they lost the physically imposing duo of Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon. Memphis transfer Dominic Woodson is the lone big man on the roster and UT caught a break when the NCAA ruled him immediately eligible rather than having to sit out a year. He didn’t make much of an impact in his freshman campaign with the Tigers but has to bring his size and strength down low for the Vols.
Tyndall has several versatile forwards to choose from in hopes of adding contributions up-front. Derek Reese is long, athletic, and a factor on the glass but not much of a scoring threat. He will compete for playing time with a trio of freshmen, Tariq Owens, Willie Carmichael, and Jabari McGhee.
It may take several weeks but once Tyndall gets all the new faces to jell with the returning faces, Tennessee has the talent to get back to the Big Dance. A lack of size and true point guard play is a major question mark though.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/14 vs. VCU (Veterans Classic in Annapolis, MD)
11/27 vs. Santa Clara (Orlando Classic)
11/28 vs. Kansas/Rhode Island (Orlando Classic)
11/30 vs. Michigan State/Rider/Marquette/Georgia Tech (Orlando Classic)
12/6 vs. Kansas State (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
12/14 vs. Butler
12/17 at N.C. State
OTHER SEC PREVIEWS:
BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
#1 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.