Tennessee basketball set out to improve offensively last offseason after struggling on that end of the court in its 2022-23 Sweet 16 season.
Through 14 games, the Vols are definitively better on the offensive end. After ranking 64th in adjusted offensive efficiency last season, Tennessee currently ranks 23rd nationally ahead of Wednesday night’s showdown at Mississippi State.
So why is Tennessee’s offense better?
“We have older players,” Tennessee assistant coach Gregg Polinsky said on Tuesday.
That’s certainly a part of it. Tennessee returned three of its top four scorers from last season’s team. With a fully healthy offseason, James has taken a step forward. Power forward Jonas Aidoo has drastically improved as an offensive option and Zakai Zeigler has also looked better in recent weeks.
But the way Tennessee has used James and Aidoo also is a big piece of the puzzle.
“I think coach’s adaptation into playing to our personnel versus playing to— a lot of coaches can’t get out of what they’ve always done,” Polinsky said. “And to coach’s credit, there’s the flexibility. Yeah, there’s non-negotiables, there’s the things we’re going to do and we’re going to do well that are important for each and every player.”
The ability to play small is a major part of the offensive improvement. Tennessee has played one-big lineups 83% of minutes in the last five games and that matches up with the rest of the season.
James is playing 70% of those minutes and his career-best perimeter shooting season makes Tennessee’s offense all the more efficient. The Vols are shooting 1.2% better from three-point range this season compared to last. That may seem minimal but it’s the difference in the nation’s 231st and 148th best three-point shooting teams.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Basketball Ranks In This Week’s AP Poll
Tennessee’s improved court spacing opens up more opportunities at the basket for an offense that has more interior scoring options. Zakai Zeigler was the only player that could consistently do that last season. This year, the Vols have Dalton Knecht and Aidoo in addition to Zeigler. It should also come as no surprise that James and Santiago Vescovi are finishing at the basket better this season than they have the first four seasons in Knoxville.
One last benefit to Barnes adapting and playing smaller lineups is that it puts better ball handlers on the court. Tennessee has taken care of the basketball at an extremely strong mark this season. The Vols’ 15% turnover rate is their best in the 26 years of KenPom.
“I truly believe if you play defense, rebound the ball on both ends, whether you’re making shots or not and take care of the ball, don’t give up turnovers for easy baskets. You’re going to have a chance every night to be in the game,” head coach Rick Barnes said following win over Ole Miss.
