Tennessee basketball officially opens its 2024-25 season on Monday night when they host Gardner Webb at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
After months of roster building and practice, the show is finally here. Over the course of the offseason I’ve talked to coaches about the team, watched them practice a handful of times and have seen them in one exhibition game.
Here’s five things I think I know about Tennessee basketball ahead of its season opener.
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Tennessee Will Be Very Dependent On Zakai Zeigler
Zakai Zeigler is Tennessee’s best player entering his senior season so it’s not surprising that the Vols are going to be dependent on him this season. But as it’s titled, Tennessee is going to be very dependent on Zeigler.
The Vols went out in the transfer portal and added four players that fit around Zeigler. They added three high level perimeter shooters and a 6-foot-11 center who’s a great rim runner and lob threat.
What they didn’t add is a player that can create for himself or others off the dribble. And barring one of the returning players making a major leap forward, Zeigler is the only person on Tennessee’s roster that can do that at a high level. The players Tennessee added in the portal are meant to fit perfectly in a puzzle where Zeigler is the center piece.
This is more than just Zeigler’s team. He is the guy on this Tennessee roster. The players around him will likely decide what the true ceiling for Rick Barnes’ 10th Tennessee team is, but Zeigler is the one that will set the median.
Tennessee Will Finish Top Five In Defensive Efficiency Again
Tennessee has finished top five in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency in each of the last four seasons. I’m very confident that will remain the case this season.
I’d wager that Tennessee has a top five defender in the country at the point guard spot (Zeigler), wing spot (Jahmai Mashack) and center spot (Felix Okpara). Those three set an incredibly high floor for Tennessee’s defense.
How the others around them grow and how cohesive Tennessee can become on that end of the floor will decide just how good they can become. My guess is that there will be some learning curves early in the season and moments where the Vols will miss Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James.
But by the time all is set and done, Tennessee will once again have a top five defense nationally.
Felix Okpara Will Be Tennessee’s Best Interior Defender Of Rick Barnes’ Tenure
Felix Okpara is going to be Tennessee’s best interior defender of Rick Barnes’ tenure as head coach. The Ohio State transfer was one of six players nationally that blocked 80-plus shots last season, finishing the year with 83.
From everything I’ve heard and seen, he’s shown that same ability this offseason at Tennessee. But his physicality inside has been even more impressive than I expected it to be too. That showed up in the Vols’ exhibition loss when he performed well against star Hoosier transfer Oumar Ballo.
Kyle Alexander, Yves Pons and even Jonas Aidoo were good defensive centers. Okpara is going to be better than all of them on that end of the court. Pons’ 73 blocks are a Tennessee program best. If Okpara stays healthy, I think he breaks it.
Cam Carr Is The Ultimate X-Factor
Carr is 6-foot-5 with a 7’2 wing span and a good jump shot. Physically, he’s everything you’d want in a wing. That’s why he’s shown up as a potential first round draft pick.
But things haven’t clicked that way for him this offseason as he enters his sophomore year. Inconsistency has been the name of the game for Carr, particularly on the defensive end where he has a tendency to fall asleep and make mental errors.
If it clicks for Carr, watch out. It changes the outlook for this Tennessee team. His ceiling is incredibly high and he can do things on the offensive end that would alleviate a lot of pressure off of Zeigler’s shoulders. Carr is a fearless scorer who can rise to the occasion which gives even more reasons to be excited if it all clicks.
No player on Tennessee’s roster has a bigger discrepancy in floor and ceiling this season than Carr. That’s what makes him the ultimate x-factor.
Cade Phillips Will Be In The Rotation Come SEC Play
When Tennessee was putting its roster together this spring, my initial thinking was that rising sophomore Cade Phillips would be on the outside looking in when it came to have a consistent role. I no longer feel that way.
I’m not totally sure what that role looks like. Phillips is ahead of Hofstra transfer Darlinstone Dubar at the four-spot and is in line to be Igor Milicic backup. But Tennessee could limit the importance of that role by playing Jahmai Mashack as a stretch four.
But Phillips could also earn a role as a small ball five man too. His jump shot, which was a huge offseason emphasis for him, is his x-factor this season.
The 6-foot-9 forward does enough small things well that I’m confident he becomes at least a 10 minute a night player when SEC play rolls around.
