- Paris Olympics takeaways: What did Team USA’s crunch-time lineup say about NBA’s hierarchy?Posted 3 months ago
- Zach Edey posted an easy double-double in Summer League debut. Here’s why he’ll succeed in NBAPosted 4 months ago
- What will we most remember these champion Boston Celtics for?Posted 5 months ago
- After long, seven-year road filled with excruciating losses, Celtics’ coast to NBA title felt ‘surreal’Posted 5 months ago
- South Florida men’s basketball is on an unbelievable heater– but also still on the bubblePosted 9 months ago
- Kobe Bufkin is balling out for Atlanta Hawks’ G League team. When will he be called up to NBA?Posted 10 months ago
- Former Knicks guards Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett may yet prove Raptors won the OG Anunoby tradePosted 11 months ago
- Rebounding savant Oscar Tshiebwe finally gets NBA chance he’s deserved for yearsPosted 11 months ago
- Is Tyrese Maxey vs. Tyrese Haliburton the next great NBA guard rivalry?Posted 1 year ago
- The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in a few yearsPosted 1 year ago
College Basketball Preseason Top 25: #24 Tennessee
- Updated: September 15, 2013
24. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee has rebounded nicely from its split with program rejuvenator Bruce Pearl, and the hard-nosed, tough-loving Cuonzo Martin seems to have struck a chord with recruits. The Vols return SEC Player of the Year candidate Jordan McRae, who averaged 15.7 points per game last season and easily could have left Knoxville for the NBA. McRae has next-level size (6-6) and is a terrific shooter and capable rebounder (4.1 per). But he’s not the only Volunteer who will be playing for pay in the near future. 6-8 junior forward Jarnell Stokes is a load inside, averaging 12.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game last year. Stokes has got the potential to turn into one of the best players in all of college basketball. He is athletic and tough inside, and could end up a first round pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
Still, Stokes may not be the best interior player on the team, as fifth-year senior Jeronne Maymon (12.7 points, 8.1 rebounds) returns after missing the entire 2012-13 season with a knee injury. You may remember that Maymon went for 32 points and 20 boards in an overtime win over Memphis at the Maui Invitational early in the 2011 season. If the 6-8 power forward can become the same player he was when he went down, Tennessee has a chance to be very dangerous.
BOTTOM LINE: The Volunteers are loaded with NBA talent and should be one of the best teams in the SEC. For the first time in the Cuonzo Martin era, Tennessee will be expected to reach the NCAAs, and this bunch could be more talented than the 2010 squad that reached the Elite Eight. While there’s plenty of reason for optimism, the Vols will also be handing the keys of the offense over to a true freshman in Darius Thompson. His play might make the difference between another deep NCAA run and disappointment.
Pingback: College Basketball Season Preview: Top 25