On paper, which team is better?

[Vols till I fall]

Last year's team or this years?

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

I think most people would pick last years team if they know going in what Knecht is.

 

[ETNCvol]

This coming year, I’m excited for this new bunch, hope they can gel as a team

 

[TrippieRedd]

On paper, last year.

If Santi averaged his stats from the previous year or when he averaged 13.3 a few years ago to go along with DKs numbers, we’d probably be dancing, especially if we knew how good Knecht was going to be.

 

[Vols till I fall]

One thing very different for this year's team is we have a bunch of guys that are capable of shooting

That is something we have not seen here before under Barnes

 

[Hacksaw]

That depends on whether you mean on paper or on paper.

 

[Special Ed]

One thing very different for this year's team is we have a bunch of guys that are capable of shooting

That is something we have not seen here before under Barnes

All of them can shoot, but not all of them can score.

 

[Jack Burton]

I’m excited about the 2024 season but I think chemistry will be the deciding factor here.

 

[sami]

This group has great potential to be as good or possibly better, but obviously we need to see Lanier, Milicic, and Dubar play at that level stepping up in competition anywhere near the way that DK did last season. I have little doubt the chemistry and defense will be there simply because having ZZ and Shack in the building will insure 100% buy in.

Potentially we are deeper with players who can score the ball, but it remains to be seen if any one of them can be that go-to guy in money situations anywhere close to DK. It will be very nice to have various options for end of game situations, but is there one guy who can 'rescue' us if need be or that Barnes can turn to for a huge bucket? Or maybe having a number of options will be a better thing.

Lots of questions to be answered, but I have a great feeling about this group.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

As long as the new guys are willing to share the ball with someone who is open for a shot, this could be a dynamic team.

 

[calban]

To be determined!!!

 

[JRVOL11]

On paper last year, because we kind of knew what we was getting outside of knecht & we was preseason ranked top 10. This years team could be better though, will have way more scorers than last year & deeper.

 

[therickbol]

There is too much unknown to accurately even guess at this point. This team team potentially has more offensive versatility and weapons. That does depend on how well a couple players translate moving up and how much development we get from a few guys. I think it is highly likely we are at least a little worse defensively.

 

[tennesseeduke]

Last year's team or this years?

last years until it's not. I really like the team Barnes has put together though!

 

[Sudden Impact]

All of them can shoot, but not all of them can score.

And some can pass a football if they can swallow it.

 

[ColinS]

Last year we added a big time scorer to an established roster that knew the system. It will be hard to reach the same level even with equal or better talent

 

[turbovol]

Why don't we see them play a few games before asking this question, eh?

 

[Orangeburst]

 

[TrippieRedd]

Why don't we see them play a few games before asking this question, eh?

“On paper”

 

[hUTch2002]

I was bullish on last year’s team making the Elite 8 before the season started. I’m saying this team will do the same. It’ll be more balanced than last year and we will at least make the Elite 8 again. From that standpoint I guess you could say equal but I actually think this team looks like they have better overall pieces than last year, certainly offensively. If they play D anywhere near last year’s level and the team gels well, there is no limit.

 

[StickMan]

I'll venture to say slightly better offensively, not quite as good defensively. I'm mainly basing that on replacing JJJ and SV, who were elite on the defensive end but inconsistent and limited on offense.

 

[Rockytop10nessee]

All of them can shoot, but not all of them can score.

Name checks out

 

[Rockytop10nessee]

Why don't we see them play a few games before asking this question, eh?

Why don’t you just not participate if you don’t want to?

 

[Chris4Vols22]

Why don't we see them play a few games before asking this question, eh?

I mean, the topic is specifically "on paper."

But to your point, I'm having a hard time formulating a guess. A lot is riding on the performance of our incoming transfers. We wound up with basically elite offense and defense last season, and it's difficult for me to assume we will replicate that after the turnover.

 

[Putbacks]

I’ll wait till fall too. Last year at this time we had Chris Ledlum—on paper. And JJJ didn’t announce his return until May 31. We became who we were through the process. But right now I’m feeling the Pointer Sisters….Go Big!