The Official “Regular Posters of the Basketball Forum” Thread

[sami]

How the Team Changes​

1. Lower "Ceiling," Higher "Floor": You lose the 7-foot intimidation factor of Okpara, but your average height across the starting lineup will likely increase. Instead of having a 6'2" guard and a 7'0" center, you’ll likely start three or four guys between 6'7" and 6'10".
2. The "Juke Harris" Advantage: In the past, Tennessee has sometimes played smaller guards like Zakai Zeigler (5'9"). By adding Juke Harris (6'7") to a backcourt that already has Jalen Haralson (6'7"), you are essentially putting a "wall" of 6'7" athletes on the perimeter. This makes it incredibly hard for opponents to pass over the defense.
3. The New "Big" Anchor: Miles Rubin is the key. While he is listed at 6'10" (one inch shorter than Okpara), his wingspan and verticality are elite. He will be your tallest active player, supported by Braedan Lue (6'9") and DeWayne Brown II (6'9").

The Verdict​

You are losing about 2 inches of max height in the paint, but you are gaining about 3 to 4 inches of height on the wings.

The team will look less like a traditional "big man" squad and more like a modern NBA-style roster: long, switchable, and versatile. You won't have a 7-footer to bail you out with blocks as often, but you'll have 6'7"–6'9" guys at almost every position, which is a nightmare for opposing offenses to score against.


Would you guys agree with this?

Haralson is likely a 4 that can play the 3 in big lineups, not in the backcourt. Your starting PG is 6'3" Terrence Hill. Your point is taken, but the roster is not complete yet and I don't get worked up over height like so many seem obsessed with on here. Rubin is possibly every bit the rim protector that Felix was even at 6'10". But the elite size and switchability through the lineup is going to be fun to watch.

 

[berryvol]

How the Team Changes​

1. Lower "Ceiling," Higher "Floor": You lose the 7-foot intimidation factor of Okpara, but your average height across the starting lineup will likely increase. Instead of having a 6'2" guard and a 7'0" center, you’ll likely start three or four guys between 6'7" and 6'10".
2. The "Juke Harris" Advantage: In the past, Tennessee has sometimes played smaller guards like Zakai Zeigler (5'9"). By adding Juke Harris (6'7") to a backcourt that already has Jalen Haralson (6'7"), you are essentially putting a "wall" of 6'7" athletes on the perimeter. This makes it incredibly hard for opponents to pass over the defense.
3. The New "Big" Anchor: Miles Rubin is the key. While he is listed at 6'10" (one inch shorter than Okpara), his wingspan and verticality are elite. He will be your tallest active player, supported by Braedan Lue (6'9") and DeWayne Brown II (6'9").

The Verdict​

You are losing about 2 inches of max height in the paint, but you are gaining about 3 to 4 inches of height on the wings.

The team will look less like a traditional "big man" squad and more like a modern NBA-style roster: long, switchable, and versatile. You won't have a 7-footer to bail you out with blocks as often, but you'll have 6'7"–6'9" guys at almost every position, which is a nightmare for opposing offenses to score against.


Would you guys agree with this?

Don’t really agree with this at all, especially the first two points. Is this AI?

Quite the opposite on the first one - I’d argue our ceiling is objectively way higher, especially if we add juke, and the floor is lower with all the new faces and lack of proven defense. Also, JH isn’t a guard, but even if he’s guarding the perimeter I don’t think he and Juke are some pass lane maniacs that are gonna rival our past perimeter defense.

We’re obviously going to have a more guard-centered/modern roster this year, but very confused as to the defensive slant of this. That’s the side of the court I and most others are most concerned about with this group.

 

[sami]

Don’t really agree with this at all, especially the first two points. Is this AI?

Quite the opposite on the first one - I’d argue our ceiling is objectively way higher, especially if we add juke, and the floor is lower with all the new faces and lack of proven defense. Also, JH isn’t a guard, but even if he’s guarding the perimeter I don’t think he and Juke are some pass lane maniacs that are gonna rival our past perimeter defense.

We’re obviously going to have a more guard-centered/modern roster this year, but very confused as to the defensive slant of this. That’s the side of the court I and most others are most concerned about with this group.

Agree that defense will be the biggest question mark, but I guess that I just trust CRB to build at the very least a functional defensive unit with the size and athletes he has on hand.

And the reality might be that he realizes to compete at the highest level requires the ability to simply outscore people on certain days, something we haven't seen here in the Barnes era. As hard as it is to imagine such a change of mindset, it's been made pretty clear from this roster construction that having multiple scorers on the floor at any time is a priority.

Still, it would surprise me if this group isn't a top 30 defensive team by March 2027.

 

[omghulkhands]

I’m visiting Hickory, NC today.

Where they put the monument to Rick Barnes at?

 

[berryvol]

Agree that defense will be the biggest question mark, but I guess that I just trust CRB to build at the very least a functional defensive unit with the size and athletes he has on hand.

And the reality might be that he realizes to compete at the highest level requires the ability to simply outscore people on certain days, something we haven't seen here in the Barnes era. As hard as it is to imagine such a change of mindset, it's been made pretty clear from this roster construction that having multiple scorers on the floor at any time is a priority.

Still, it would surprise me if this group isn't a top 30 defensive team by March 2027.

I don’t disagree with any of this, I was just disagreeing with the entire premise of the OP. I see this group being closer to the 2019 final KP O&D EFF splits than the 2023 team’s. I think Barnes can have them top 20, but them getting there is way bigger of a question mark than the offensive production imo.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I don’t disagree with any of this, I was just disagreeing with the entire premise of the OP. I see this group being closer to the 2019 final KP O&D EFF splits than the 2023 team’s. I think Barnes can have them top 20, but them getting there is way bigger of a question mark than the offensive production imo.

Think this is right. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about defense, because Barnes will always get the best out of someone on that end of the court, but it certainly won’t be the elite defense we’re used to.

Right now, assuming Juke does commit, my biggest concern with this team will just be depth. Which is funny because last year in the off-season most of us thought the 2025-2026 team would be one of the deepest teams we’ve had even with the flaws, so maybe I’ll end up being presently surprised.

I think if you add Juke you have 6-7 guys you feel good about but a front court with a lot of question marks and one injury from that core 6-7 from potential trouble. I’m excited about next year, but I don’t see the Top 6-8 projections with Juke that a lot of people are touting. Feels much more like a team that is in the 15-20 range with the question marks we have.

 

[sami]

Think this is right. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about defense, because Barnes will always get the best out of someone on that end of the court, but it certainly won’t be the elite defense we’re used to.

Right now, assuming Juke does commit, my biggest concern with this team will just be depth. Which is funny because last year in the off-season most of us thought the 2025-2026 team would be one of the deepest teams we’ve had even with the flaws, so maybe I’ll end up being presently surprised.

I think if you add Juke you have 6-7 guys you feel good about but a front court with a lot of question marks and one injury from that core 6-7 from potential trouble. I’m excited about next year, but I don’t see the Top 6-8 projections with Juke that a lot of people are touting. Feels much more like a team that is in the 15-20 range with the question marks we have.

Bottom line is that we'll need 1-2 freshmen to step up the way Amari Evans did and become 'quality depth'. Add to that there are a couple of spots still to potentially fill and a few months to fill them.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Bottom line is that we'll need 1-2 freshmen to step up the way Amari Evans did and become 'quality depth'. Add to that there are a couple of spots still to potentially fill and a few months to fill them.

I guess I’m just operating under the assumption that I don’t expect to get many quality minutes from the freshmen this year. I’m not that high on this class at least not for early impact. Torvik has us at 22 right now before the Juke addition.

 

[orangemadam]

Seems to me that another stud post player is needed in addition to Juke.

 

[Skooter]

Bottom line is that we'll need 1-2 freshmen to step up the way Amari Evans did and become 'quality depth'. Add to that there are a couple of spots still to potentially fill and a few months to fill them.

We will have a couple who step up and give good minutes like Brown and Evans did. Remember Brown was coming in to be the 5th big and only expected to play in mop up duty.

 

[berryvol]

Think this is right. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about defense, because Barnes will always get the best out of someone on that end of the court, but it certainly won’t be the elite defense we’re used to.

Right now, assuming Juke does commit, my biggest concern with this team will just be depth. Which is funny because last year in the off-season most of us thought the 2025-2026 team would be one of the deepest teams we’ve had even with the flaws, so maybe I’ll end up being presently surprised.

I think if you add Juke you have 6-7 guys you feel good about but a front court with a lot of question marks and one injury from that core 6-7 from potential trouble. I’m excited about next year, but I don’t see the Top 6-8 projections with Juke that a lot of people are touting. Feels much more like a team that is in the 15-20 range with the question marks we have.

I’m not as worried about the front court as you, but I definitely think we’re need to add one more serviceable or high ceiling body down low for depth purposes. The guys we have will offer some different looks on offense and the glass than what we’ve had over the last few seasons and I think we have the potential to have a surprisingly strong front court - once again tho, I share your depth concerns with the position and hope we get another body.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Think this is right. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about defense, because Barnes will always get the best out of someone on that end of the court, but it certainly won’t be the elite defense we’re used to.

Right now, assuming Juke does commit, my biggest concern with this team will just be depth. Which is funny because last year in the off-season most of us thought the 2025-2026 team would be one of the deepest teams we’ve had even with the flaws, so maybe I’ll end up being presently surprised.

I think if you add Juke you have 6-7 guys you feel good about but a front court with a lot of question marks and one injury from that core 6-7 from potential trouble. I’m excited about next year, but I don’t see the Top 6-8 projections with Juke that a lot of people are touting. Feels much more like a team that is in the 15-20 range with the question marks we have.

2019 wasn't an elite defense, and it is still, IMO, the best team Barnes has had here.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

We will have a couple who step up and give good minutes like Brown and Evans did. Remember Brown was coming in to be the 5th big and only expected to play in mop up duty.

I think Brown's starts next year

 

[sami]

Seems to me that another stud post player is needed in addition to Juke.

He had better be at least 7'0" tall or just forget it.

 

[Namorto1]

I think Brown's starts next year

Brown may very well be our best low post offensive player next year, but with our new offensive firepower we have signed, at best he would be our 4th or 5th best option to score on the floor at any time against better competition. It's possible he starts at the 5 if he can beat out Rubin but if Rubin's shot blocking ability is legit than I expect it would be unlikely. If we get Juke Harris I expect Haralson will start at the 4 and we will spread the floor. Without Juke in the fold the lineup could go a number of ways, and more possible that Brown starts. Regardless he will definitely be in the 8-man rotation. Brown obviously can play the 4 as well, but I think with this group it would mess up our spacing with both him and Rubin in the lineup. We are going to attack the paint with our perimeter players (including Haralson) this next season.

With Juke I would think the rotation would include: Hill, Lundblade, Ames, *Harris, Haralson, Rubin, Brown and Lue. Not sure how they will defend yet, but the scoring potential is ridiculous. These 8 would account for all the minutes in competitive games in my opinion.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

I guess I’m just operating under the assumption that I don’t expect to get many quality minutes from the freshmen this year. I’m not that high on this class at least not for early impact. Torvik has us at 22 right now before the Juke addition.

I wasn’t that high on last year’s freshmen (other than ament) this time last year but Evans and Brown really impressed and Henderson looked decent before the shoulder injury.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Think this is right. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about defense, because Barnes will always get the best out of someone on that end of the court, but it certainly won’t be the elite defense we’re used to.

Right now, assuming Juke does commit, my biggest concern with this team will just be depth. Which is funny because last year in the off-season most of us thought the 2025-2026 team would be one of the deepest teams we’ve had even with the flaws, so maybe I’ll end up being presently surprised.

I think if you add Juke you have 6-7 guys you feel good about but a front court with a lot of question marks and one injury from that core 6-7 from potential trouble. I’m excited about next year, but I don’t see the Top 6-8 projections with Juke that a lot of people are touting. Feels much more like a team that is in the 15-20 range with the question marks we have.

I think the group of guards with Juke will be the best assemblage of offensive guards Barnes has had during his tenure. All that matters with depth is 8 minute worthy players which I think this team has if just one of the freshmen pops (Evans and brown did last year).

If this team had Okpara instead of Rubin I think there would be much less concern about bigs since we don't know how Rubin will translate. If Brown and Rubin are solid this team will be awesome next year.

 

[Willy14]

Think this is right. I wouldn’t say I’m concerned about defense, because Barnes will always get the best out of someone on that end of the court, but it certainly won’t be the elite defense we’re used to.

Right now, assuming Juke does commit, my biggest concern with this team will just be depth. Which is funny because last year in the off-season most of us thought the 2025-2026 team would be one of the deepest teams we’ve had even with the flaws, so maybe I’ll end up being presently surprised.

I think if you add Juke you have 6-7 guys you feel good about but a front court with a lot of question marks and one injury from that core 6-7 from potential trouble. I’m excited about next year, but I don’t see the Top 6-8 projections with Juke that a lot of people are touting. Feels much more like a team that is in the 15-20 range with the question marks we have.

Just to make sure I’m understanding correctly are you saying that you think our roster is in the 15-20 range even after we add Juke?

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Just to make sure I’m understanding correctly are you saying that you think our roster is in the 15-20 range even after we add Juke?

Probably closer to 15, but yes. I don’t think it’s that crazy either. Torvik has us at 22 right now.

 

[Willy14]

Probably closer to 15, but yes. I don’t think it’s that crazy either. Torvik has us at 22 right now.

I understand where you’re coming from but (assuming we land Juke) I don’t know if there is 10 rosters in the country I would switch for ours. I could definitely name probably like 7 or 8. But I’m not sure about 14. But I also definitely see your concerns as well.

 

[orangemadam]

He had better be at least 7'0" tall or just forget it.

which post player will become our "enforcer" Brown?

 

[sami]

Add one more big and this roster is set. Football season has almost become irrelevant.

 

[knoxvol52]

Add one more big and this roster is set. Football season has almost become irrelevant.

 

[Redheads]

Great day today. One thing I’d like to point out is the evolution of Rick Barnes. I’ve always been his biggest fan but for all the people saying “fire him, the game has passed him by”, ect it seems amazing to see a man that age change as he has. He has always been a defense and rebounding first guy but has really changed in the last year or 2. If you look at our stats this year, we lost 4-5 games where we out rebounded teams by a wide margin and took way more shots and still lost. In the past, the portal guys we got like DK and Lanier weren’t great on defense but he overlooked it a little bit because we needed their offense so bad. I think he’s decided to bring in great offensive guys with the idea that it’s a lot easier to teach a great offensive player defense than the other way around. Early season games are going to be really fun to see if he will still yank guys out for getting blown by on defense like he usually does. I bet he does. Should be fun.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I’m way more excited about Barnes and this upcoming basketball season than I am with the football team.

I like Heupel and think he’s a decent coach but I’m not sure if this year is worth getting excited over. I’m hoping for at least 8-9 wins with a new QB, Defense, and rough schedule ahead.