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Part One
1. If you want to get minutes, you better bring it defensively- Watching the preseason game against Tusculum, the one thing that caught my eye was the intensity everyone brought on the defensive end. This should not shock Tennessee fans at all as they finished 37th in defensive efficiency nationally. But for a preseason game, it looked like Barnes gave his team one message: If you want minutes, you play hard on defense. He mentioned it repeatedly in his presser after the exhibition game.
With Tennessee's offensive firepower and the offensive rebounding, Tennessee should not have too many issues scoring the basketball, especially with improved guard play. But Barnes knows this team's defense will take them to the promised land. Grant Williams can stand to improve and that is gonna be the next step in his game. And the bench will need to find consistent defenders. Derrick Walker and Yves Pons are gonna get minutes and have the potential to be really good defenders. Barnes has never been afraid to bench guys for lack of defensive hustle and he will do the same this year.
2. What new offensive looks will we see?- Barnes talked about expanding the offensive sets and I saw a couple of things I liked in the exhibition. Looked like more sets for three-pointers and a little more drive and kick game was prevalent on Tuesday. I have been harping for more on ball pick and roll, with Jordan Bone's ability to get into the paint. I think more pick and roll with Bone/Alexander or Williams and spread out with Schofield/Bowden/Turner can be a deadly look. I am curious if Tennessee pushes the ball more with the depth that they have and I think more transition buckets will be an emphasis. And expect to see post isolations with Williams and Schofield again, but maybe with more off-ball action and cuts to get easy buckets. That will depend on if the posts have worked on their passing out of the post (a weakness of the team last year).
3. Can Jordan Bone take the next step?- If you ask me who is the most important player on the 2018-2019 Tennessee Men's Basketball Team, I think Rick Barnes would tell you the same answer I will give: Jordan Bone. Only a junior, I do not want to say Bone was disappointing (especially because injuries set back his freshman year and put him behind). However, there has been a lack of consistent play from his offense. A 49% true shooting percentage won’t cut it from the point guard spot. And this year, there is no James Daniel to come in and steady the team when he struggles. Only Lamonte Turner is the other point guard and he is better off the ball.
I think you will see Barnes help him out this year more than last year. In 2017-2018, Barnes called a lot of isolations for Schofield and Williams. It worked well and helped cover the lack of playmaking from the guards. It also gave Tennessee the best chance to spread the floor. I remember the Arkansas game in the SEC tournament and how well Bone looked with a faster pace and more plays designed for him. He took advantage and was excellent. This year, more on ball screens and a faster pace can put him into a better rhythm to guide the offense. He doesn’t have to be an All-SEC player but something like ten points and five assists (with something like 35% from deep) while continuing to protect the ball (which he did well last year) will take Tennessee to another level.
4. Who will be the fourth big? We know Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander will take a bulk of the playing time at the forward spots. And Admiral is going to see time as a stretch four with his shooting and rebounding. Alexander plays hard and provides excellent rim protection and shows touch around the rim. But he’s never been in great condition and he’s always had foul problems. Tennessee is gonna need another guy. Last year, both John Fulkerson and Derrick Walker struggled badly in the loss to Loyola-Chicago after Kyle Alexander went down with an injury. And neither player showed consistency coming off the bench. But they both have strengths and can contribute this year.
Walker brings the toughness and rebounding that Barnes likes from the center position. He has shown some scoring ability and I like how he sets screens. Defensively, he will never be a shot blocker and moving his feet on defense will be the next step in his development. Fulkerson is a really good passer and I like his offensive profile. A lefty with nice touch, he also understands spacing and cutting in this offense. Last year, he didn’t get an offseason with his injuries. He was the source of frustration for Volunteer fans last year but I think he will surprise some people. And honestly, both guys could be regulars in the rotation. They are both athletic enough to play the power forward spot. More Admiral at the wing is a benefit because he’s the second best shooter on the team and he provides a mismatch with his post game against other wings.
5. The development of Yves Pons- If you ask me, the most intriguing NBA prospect on this Tennessee team is French swingman Yves Pons. He’s 6’6 with a super long wingspan and already has an NBA body. I love his athleticism and not just his jumping ability. He has a quick first step and the agility that scouts love. But coming into Tennessee, he was (and probably still is) incredibly raw and didn’t get a lot of playing time for a team that had championship aspirations. The Volunteers could not throw him into the fire like they might have been able to in Barnes’ first two years.
This year, Pons might be Tennessee’s best defender. Barnes has already praised Pons’ versatility and has talked about how he can play all five positions on that end. The shot will get there and it looks better. He has a more consistent release and his footwork is light years ahead of where it was his freshman year. And with Lamonte Turner being the primary backup point guard (and really the only one) Tennessee will need somebody to step up at the wing. Pons doesn’t need to be great offensively. Tennessee has the firepower for that already. What they need is a defender and rebounder, which Pons can be. All they need him to do on offense is hit some open three’s and finish in transition. Pons has a first-round NBA body and the athleticism to go with it. Now this year it will be playing consistent minutes and becoming an elite defender.
1. If you want to get minutes, you better bring it defensively- Watching the preseason game against Tusculum, the one thing that caught my eye was the intensity everyone brought on the defensive end. This should not shock Tennessee fans at all as they finished 37th in defensive efficiency nationally. But for a preseason game, it looked like Barnes gave his team one message: If you want minutes, you play hard on defense. He mentioned it repeatedly in his presser after the exhibition game.
With Tennessee's offensive firepower and the offensive rebounding, Tennessee should not have too many issues scoring the basketball, especially with improved guard play. But Barnes knows this team's defense will take them to the promised land. Grant Williams can stand to improve and that is gonna be the next step in his game. And the bench will need to find consistent defenders. Derrick Walker and Yves Pons are gonna get minutes and have the potential to be really good defenders. Barnes has never been afraid to bench guys for lack of defensive hustle and he will do the same this year.
2. What new offensive looks will we see?- Barnes talked about expanding the offensive sets and I saw a couple of things I liked in the exhibition. Looked like more sets for three-pointers and a little more drive and kick game was prevalent on Tuesday. I have been harping for more on ball pick and roll, with Jordan Bone's ability to get into the paint. I think more pick and roll with Bone/Alexander or Williams and spread out with Schofield/Bowden/Turner can be a deadly look. I am curious if Tennessee pushes the ball more with the depth that they have and I think more transition buckets will be an emphasis. And expect to see post isolations with Williams and Schofield again, but maybe with more off-ball action and cuts to get easy buckets. That will depend on if the posts have worked on their passing out of the post (a weakness of the team last year).
3. Can Jordan Bone take the next step?- If you ask me who is the most important player on the 2018-2019 Tennessee Men's Basketball Team, I think Rick Barnes would tell you the same answer I will give: Jordan Bone. Only a junior, I do not want to say Bone was disappointing (especially because injuries set back his freshman year and put him behind). However, there has been a lack of consistent play from his offense. A 49% true shooting percentage won’t cut it from the point guard spot. And this year, there is no James Daniel to come in and steady the team when he struggles. Only Lamonte Turner is the other point guard and he is better off the ball.
I think you will see Barnes help him out this year more than last year. In 2017-2018, Barnes called a lot of isolations for Schofield and Williams. It worked well and helped cover the lack of playmaking from the guards. It also gave Tennessee the best chance to spread the floor. I remember the Arkansas game in the SEC tournament and how well Bone looked with a faster pace and more plays designed for him. He took advantage and was excellent. This year, more on ball screens and a faster pace can put him into a better rhythm to guide the offense. He doesn’t have to be an All-SEC player but something like ten points and five assists (with something like 35% from deep) while continuing to protect the ball (which he did well last year) will take Tennessee to another level.
4. Who will be the fourth big? We know Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander will take a bulk of the playing time at the forward spots. And Admiral is going to see time as a stretch four with his shooting and rebounding. Alexander plays hard and provides excellent rim protection and shows touch around the rim. But he’s never been in great condition and he’s always had foul problems. Tennessee is gonna need another guy. Last year, both John Fulkerson and Derrick Walker struggled badly in the loss to Loyola-Chicago after Kyle Alexander went down with an injury. And neither player showed consistency coming off the bench. But they both have strengths and can contribute this year.
Walker brings the toughness and rebounding that Barnes likes from the center position. He has shown some scoring ability and I like how he sets screens. Defensively, he will never be a shot blocker and moving his feet on defense will be the next step in his development. Fulkerson is a really good passer and I like his offensive profile. A lefty with nice touch, he also understands spacing and cutting in this offense. Last year, he didn’t get an offseason with his injuries. He was the source of frustration for Volunteer fans last year but I think he will surprise some people. And honestly, both guys could be regulars in the rotation. They are both athletic enough to play the power forward spot. More Admiral at the wing is a benefit because he’s the second best shooter on the team and he provides a mismatch with his post game against other wings.
5. The development of Yves Pons- If you ask me, the most intriguing NBA prospect on this Tennessee team is French swingman Yves Pons. He’s 6’6 with a super long wingspan and already has an NBA body. I love his athleticism and not just his jumping ability. He has a quick first step and the agility that scouts love. But coming into Tennessee, he was (and probably still is) incredibly raw and didn’t get a lot of playing time for a team that had championship aspirations. The Volunteers could not throw him into the fire like they might have been able to in Barnes’ first two years.
This year, Pons might be Tennessee’s best defender. Barnes has already praised Pons’ versatility and has talked about how he can play all five positions on that end. The shot will get there and it looks better. He has a more consistent release and his footwork is light years ahead of where it was his freshman year. And with Lamonte Turner being the primary backup point guard (and really the only one) Tennessee will need somebody to step up at the wing. Pons doesn’t need to be great offensively. Tennessee has the firepower for that already. What they need is a defender and rebounder, which Pons can be. All they need him to do on offense is hit some open three’s and finish in transition. Pons has a first-round NBA body and the athleticism to go with it. Now this year it will be playing consistent minutes and becoming an elite defender.
