Wednesday, November 3, 2021 - Basketball Preview

Volume 140, Issue 12 Wednesday, November 3, 2021

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW ‘21-22

After an unusual COVID-19 season, both the Vols and Lady Vols are set to take on challenging schedules.

Previewing the Vols: 4 - Fulkerson’s planning his final season 8- Barnes’ addressing off-season issues early 11 -Newcomers Chandler and Huntley-Hatfield

Previewing the Lady Vols: 5 - Plans to return to the top of SEC 6 - Filling Rennia Davis’ shoes 12 - Coach Kellie Harper’s culture shift

Photo by: Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 3, 2021

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Letter from the Sports Editor: Learning to appreciate college hoops

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I don’t feel very strongly about college basketball. Shocking, right?

Don’t get me wrong, I love sports. I’m as big a New York Mets fan as you’ll find anywhere.

It was my routine each summer night at 7:10 p.m. to sit in my recliner and watch Jacob DeGrom strike out 12 just for the Mets to lose.

Yet I came crawling — not even crawling — I came willingly sprinting back the next night

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ange each game day, I only want to be able to look at a sports league so storied and revered and have the same level of respect for it that my peers do.

I know it’s possible, too. As I have covered other teams for the Beacon in the past, I’ve developed a fondness for those sports that wasn’t there before. Maybe it’s just me being overly sentimental, or maybe other journalists can attest to this too. I don’t know.

What I do know is that the byproduct of being at each game and covering those people and their stories is that a soft spot developed in me for sports like tennis and soccer — ones which I previously knew and cared very little for. But just this past week, I was at a Tennessee soccer match as a spectator, and I found myself enjoying it despite the cold, rainy weather. I attribute that to my time covering the soccer team last season.

Like I said, I am not out to be the nation’s leading college basketball expert by season’s end in March. But I do hope when it’s all over, I can look back and just smile because I got to watch college basketball, something I’ve never been able to say before.

Letter from the Asst. Sports Editor: The most wonderful time of the year

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to do it all over again. I’ve definitely got the sports fan piece down.

But when it comes to college basketball, and frankly most college athletics in general, that same passion just isn’t there for me. You can read Ethan’s love letter to college basketball to get that perspective, but I just don’t hold the sport in the same regard.

Before my time as a student journalist, I would only loosely follow Tennessee sports.

I always hoped they won just because I lived here in the Knoxville area, but I did not regularly tune in unless the likes of Josh Dobbs, Grant Williams or Admiral Schofield were leading the way. The majority of the time, I was indifferent to Tennessee sports at best.

In one sense, that certainly helps me now as a student journalist. I cannot be partial to one team over the other. Even on the Tennessee beat, I can’t favor the Vols over their opponent, turn a blind eye to something they do or write favorably about the Vols when they don’t deserve it. Not having that deep-rooted fandom for the Vols has made it that much easier for me to stay unbiased.

This season, I hope to gain a sense of appreciation for college basketball that I’ve just not had before. I’m not talking about transforming into a diehard UT fan that bleeds or-

ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor Like the iconic Christmas song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” once again. College basketball is back, as are colder temperatures, colorful leaves and, soon, the end of the fall semester.

The college student in me finds solace in that last line alone, but for every other part of me it’s about so much more than the season itself — we are getting to a point where I can come home from work and know for certain there will be college basketball on my television screen. It could be Duke versus Kentucky or Weber State versus Montana, I’ll watch either.

There are truly few things I enjoy more

than college basketball. The underdog stories, the pageantry and the unmatched love for the game, in my opinion, make it the greatest sport to follow on planet Earth.

I’ve always loved sports for so much more than just wins and losses. It may illicit a few eye rolls, but to me it’s pure, original storytelling. More importantly, it’s an escape from the humdrums of tough, stressful daily routines.

I sit writing this watching Virginia football play BYU at about 1 o’clock in the morning. It’s been a rough day, and I know there is plenty more on my plate for tomorrow, but what I don’t know is who is going to win this game.

It’s not college basketball, but it does get my point across — the story of sports will never stop being written, and nobody ever truly knows the ending until they see the double zeros. As 2013 Auburn illustriously illustrated“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

As we enter the college basketball season, that sentiment still rings true. There are plenty of new questions to ask this season.

Will this be Tennessee’s year? Will Baylor be able to repeat as National Champions? Who will this year’s surprise team be?

The best we can do is make guesses, which is especially hard to do when there are 358 teams in the running.

I mean, isn’t that just absurd? A whopping 358 schools yield one champion by season’s end. NCAA basketball produces more losers than any “league” in America. It’s the only medium where losing in the right manner can still be considered a massive victory.

Take Oral Roberts’ Sweet 16 run last season for example. The Golden Eagles, led by electric scorer Max Abmas — pronounced ACEmiss, though he never did — took down No. 2 seed Ohio State before doing the same to No. 7 Florida to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

Abmas scored 80 points in three games, leading the Golden Eagles to the wire against Arkansas for a shot at an Elite 8 appearance.

Arkansas held strong, 72-70.

Oral Roberts had no business being there in the first place, but just like that they became the second 15-seed to reach the Sweet 16 in the Big Dance’s history. Doesn’t that sound more fun than a No. 1 seed winning it all for the thousandth time?

Whatever, I guess I can settle for No. 1 Baylor, the eventual champion, picking up its first national championship in school history.

College basketball season truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

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Schedule rundown: Best of Tennessee’s non-conference slate ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

College basketball was perhaps the sport affected most by COVID-19 restrictions. Games were being rescheduled as the season progressed, weeks and sometimes even days before they were slated to begin.

The same can be said for the inverse — more games were postponed or outright cancelled in 2020 than any year prior, for obvious reasons relating to a once-in-a-century pandemic.

Most of that is behind Tennessee basketball, a unit that faces a grueling non-conference schedule before facing an equally daunting SEC slate from mid-January onward.

Tennessee had three quality non-conference opponents last year, all of which it beat — Kansas, Cincinnati and Colorado. This year, that non-conference schedule only gets tougher.

Here’s a look at some of Tennessee’s toughest and most important non-conference games this season.

Nov. 20 — Villanova The Vols will play six preseason top-25 teams this season and that isn’t including four more — Arizona, Texas Tech, LSU and Mississippi State — which are labeled as “receiving votes.”

The best team Tennessee is scheduled against, according to that loose metric, is Villanova out of the Big East.

The Wildcats return Colin Gillespie, Justin Moore and Jermaine Samuels to a potent group coached by Jay Wright, losing Jerimiah Robinson-Earl to the NBA draft. Villanova is looking to build on a down year — a Sweet 16 appearance — following the season-ending injury of Gillespie that occurred in late March last season.

Tennessee’s matchup with the Wildcats takes place at the Basketball Hall of Fame TipOff tournament in Connecticut, a neutral site contest that will challenge the Vols early. This may be the most important game of the year for the Big Orange from a “team identity” perspective.

Dec. 18 — Memphis Another early-season test takes place at another neutral site — Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers return to face Tennessee for the third time in five years, and this year may have the most combined talent of the bunch.

The Tigers are rated as the No. 12 team in America in the AP preseason top-25 after signing two top-10 recruits in Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren before the deadline. Adding those talented freshman to a returning cast of Lester Quinones, Alex Lomax and Landers Noelley makes Memphis a tough out for the Vols come mid-December.

Memphis is also one of the last teams the Vols will play before SEC action returns in early January.

Jan. 29 — Texas There’s a lot of time before Barnes returns to his old stomping grounds, but tension is already rising between the two UT’s.

Perhaps it’s the sour taste Texas baseball

left in the College World Series, besting the Vols and losing to eventual champion Mississippi State. Maybe it’s the stage of being the marquee matchup of the Big 12/SEC challenge. One thing is for sure — Barnes and Tennessee will head into Longhorn Country expecting a win against Barnes’ former school.

Texas is listed as the No. 5 team in the nation in the AP poll, partly because of former runnerup head coach Chris Beard, who took Texas Tech to the wire against eventual champion Virginia in 2019.

Beard has Texas ready to compete at a high level just as Texas Tech did. The Longhorns return Andrew Jones, Courtney Ramey and Jase Febres while adding key Minnesota transfer Marcus Carr and Vanderbilt transfer Dylan Disu. Texas has only one freshman on the roster — four-star small forward prospect, Jaylon Tyson.

Other notable matchups Tennessee’s tough non-conference schedule doesn’t stop there. The Vols also have notable matchups against Colorado, Texas Tech and Arizona — not to mention one of Purdue or North Carolina in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Fulkerson planning to end Tennessee career on his own terms JOSH LANE Sports Editor When Tennessee defeated Florida 65-54 in its 2020-21 regular season finale, John Fulkerson was still unsure how the next few months would play out.

Fulkerson, a redshirt senior, led the team in points as he was honored on Senior Day in potentially his last game at Thompson-Boling Arena. He had seemingly put a bow on an excellent career at Tennessee.

In the days leading up to that Florida game, and even after the game was finished, Fulkerson was still undecided what his next steps would be. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA had granted players an extra year of eligibility, meaning Fulkerson could return for an unprecedented sixth season at Tennessee or he could always turn pro.

Fulkerson had endured an inconsistent 2020-21 season, filled with numerous highs and lows. He averaged 9.5 points per game and was the team’s second leading rebounder, but he only scored double-digit points in three of the Vols’ last 13 games. The professional offers were not as lucrative for the 6-foot-9 forward as they were prior to the season.

The biggest factor in Fulkerson’s decision

came when Tennessee played Florida just five days after that regular season finale in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. The Vols blew out the Gators, but Fulkerson was elbowed in the head twice by Florida’s Omar Payne. Fulkerson suffered a concussion and facial fracture and missed the rest of Tennessee’s short-lived postseason run.

Having his season cut short in a brutal way like that, paired with Tennessee’s elimination at the hot hands of Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round, all weighed heavy on Fulkerson, who took a month back home in Kingsport, Tennessee, to think and pray everything over.

“I think that was really a big key factor that played into my decision-making to come back to Tennessee,” Fulkerson said in an April press conference. “I think that it was God showing me that I had the chance and opportunity to do it one more time.”

Thirty five days after suffering a seasonending injury, Fulkerson announced his return to Rocky Top for one final ride on April 16. He wanted to end his Tennessee career on his own terms.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding,” Fulkerson said in a Twitter video, citing Proverbs 3:56. “In all your ways, acknowledge him and we will make straight your path.”

“My path still points to Rocky Top. This opportunity is too special to walk away from. Vol Nation, I’m back.”

But that final season has not started smoothly for Fulkerson. He underwent offseason wrist surgery which sidelined him for six weeks. Most recently, Fulkerson broke his left thumb, which knocked him out of the Vols’ 103-62 exhibition win over Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 30. It should not be a major setback, as Rick Barnes expects the preseason First Team All-SEC player back before meaningful games start.

It is all just another obstacle for Fulkerson to overcome. He dealt with a serious elbow and wrist injury his freshman season and tore his labrum the following year. Fulkerson has become quite familiar with Tennessee’s medical staff, but he hopes all of his injuries are out of the way now.

“Hopefully, I got all my injuries out before the season started,” Fulkerson said at Tennessee’s Media Day. “I ended the season last year with injury, and I’ve had a couple over the offseason, but hopefully I’ve got them all out of the way so I can have a great, successful season.”

Fulkerson is motivated to push through the injuries because he feels that something special is happening with this team. Fulkerson is truly optimistic for the first time in a while, thanks

to the growth of in-house players like Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James, plus the addition of five-star freshmen Kennedy Chandler and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield all under the tutelage of the veteran coach Barnes.

Among a group so young, Fulkerson hopes he can use five seasons of previous experience to lead the Vols to new heights.

“I think that with me coming back for my sixth year, I should definitely know a little about college basketball,” Fulkerson said. “Just trying to show the young guys a little bit what I’ve learned, and what I’ve learned from other great players that have been through this program and just trying to lead them in the right direction.”

John Fulkerson, No. 10, looks for a pass during the game against Texas A&M on Jan. 28, 2020. File / The Daily Beacon

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 3, 2021

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Lady Vols looking to return to the top of SEC this season RILEY THOMAS Contributor

The Lady Vols have not been a major player in the SEC since 2015 — the last time they were SEC regular season champions after posting a 15-1 record in league play.

This season brings new hope for the Lady Vols, as they look to reach the top of the SEC once again and potentially bring home another title. For the upcoming 2021-22 season, Tennessee was projected to finish second in the conference, right behind the No. 1 team in the country, South Carolina.

Preseason rankings are nice to look at and talk about and the players use it as motivation to continue to compete and get better everyday.

“I think it’s just a good testament that shows how hard everybody’s worked,” senior guard Rae Burrell said. “People worked hard for it. We compete in practice. We push each other every single day. I think it’s a good honor, but we’re still focused on the actual season and getting better every day.”

One reason the Lady Vols believe they have a shot to compete with South Carolina and other top dogs in the conference is that they are led by experienced, veteran players. Head coach

Kellie Harper and company returns nine letterwinners and six returnees with starting experience, from a team that placed third in the SEC and advanced to the NCAA second round.

“I think you rely on your experience in a lot of ways. You can’t skip that step,” Harper said.

“One of the things I am excited about in November is getting some of these young players, these freshmen some big minutes. When we get to SEC play, I need them to be a little bit more like sophomores than freshmen. One thing that is going to help them are our upperclassmen who have been there. They are going to be able to share those experiences with them but also walk on the court confident in a lot of situations.”

There will be many hurdles for the Lady Vols once they begin SEC competition. The biggest challenge will be trying to knock off juggernaut South Carolina.

The Gamecocks finished second in the SEC regular season, after falling to Texas A&M on the final day of the regular season, but won the SEC Tournament Championship for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. South Carolina reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament before falling to the eventual National Champions, Stanford.

Head coach Dawn Staley returns for her 13th season as do AP First Team All-American Ali-

yah Boston and All-SEC first teamer Zia Cooke.

In Lexington, the Kentucky Wildcats return the reigning two-time SEC Player of the Year and preseason SEC Player of the Year Rhyne Howard. She led the Wildcats with 20.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Howard’s 90 assists paced Kentucky, and she finished second with 61 steals. Kentucky was projected to finish fourth in the SEC for the upcoming season.

Down in Aggieland, the reigning SEC regular season champs started the 2021-22 season ranked 23rd nationally and were projected to finish third in the SEC. Just this past week, Texas A&M announced this upcoming season will be the last for legendary head coach Gary Blair.

Blair has been in College Station since 2003, leading the Aggies to 430 wins and a national championship in 2011. He is ranked 12th in Division I and fourth among active head coaches with 838 total wins.

It will be a steep climb for the Lady Vols to return to glory in the SEC in 2021-22, but the team is excited to be on the court again and play in front of Volunteer Nation when SEC play begins Dec. 30.

“I am looking forward to some normalcy,” Harper said. “I am looking forward to some fans in the stands and the excitement that we can generate and our fans can generate. I think sports was a much-needed thing during 2020.

Hopefully, we can get back to some normalcy in 2021.”

Rae Burrell, No. 12, shooting a three pointer in the first quarter against Ole Miss on February 27, 2020 in Thompson-Boling Arena.

File / The Daily Beacon

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 3, 2021

3 breakout candidates for the Lady Vols BRANDON SHOWN Contributor

It’s almost time for Lady Vols’ basketball to tip off again on Rocky Top. Over the offseason, Tennessee lost star player Rennia Davis to the WNBA draft, when she was selected ninth overall by the Minnesota Lynx. Former Lady Vols Destiny Salary, Kasiyahna Kushkituah and Jaiden McCoy also moved on from Tennessee for various reasons.

With nine players returning, there are not too many gaps on the roster to fill. The addition of four new freshmen as well as a graduate transfer can only help this Lady Vols team as they progress throughout their season.

Each year there is always a player that breaks out and makes a name for themselves. Whether it’s someone finally tapping into their potential or stepping up and succeeding in a new role, the players that make the jump to the next level are critical for long postseason runs.

Rae Burrell Rae Burrell figures to be one of the biggest leaders for the Lady Vols this season. She formed a potent duo with Davis last season, but on her own, Burrell looks to have a role just as prominent.

“There’s a little bit of pressure, but I feel like I just need to play my game,” Burrell said. “I’m not looking to force anything, just letting it come to me. I feel like I need to really focus on being a good leader for this team, too, whether that’s scoring or just vocally showing how to be a good leader.

There is pressure, but I trust in myself and my teammates to keep me level-headed to be a good leader.”

Burrell has been named to numerous preseason award watchlists including the Preseason All-SEC Team, the Cheryl Miller Award and the USA Today Preseason All-American.

Burrell is coming off a 2020-21 season in which she started every game for a team high 804 minutes. She averaged 16.8 points per game. She made 45% of field goal attempts and was an astounding 40.2% from three-point range. The one weakness in her game was a tendency to turn over the ball, as she committed 69 turnovers on the season.

For someone as talented as Burrell, she is looking to improve with her voice.

“For me personally, I think just being a vocal leader,” Burrell said. “Before, I think it was just more by showing. I think I really want to talk to the younger ones and show them that I can lead the team.”

Jordan Horston Jordan Horston is looking to fill a leadership role this season alongside Burrell, as she enters her third year within the program.

“Having great leaders is always a piece that’s necessary for winning teams,” Horston said.

“Having vocal leaders on and off the court

UT Guard Jordan Horston during media day on Oct. 28, 2021 at Pratt Pavilion, Knoxville, TN. Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon helping these young people come in and guide them and show them the ropes is always something a great team needs, and I feel like we have that so I’m very excited about what we can do this year and how everybody has been working hard and continuing to push each other.”

“Honestly, even though we have vocal leaders, the freshmen are leaders as well. Freshman, sophomore, everybody’s a leader, everybody’s feeling comfortable here, and that’s what I love about this team.”

Last season, Horston averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, starting 13 games as a sophomore in the 2020-21 season. She scored double figures 14 times a year ago, after only doing so five times as a freshman, and totaled 10 or more points in four of her last five games.

Horston’s 4.2 assists per game mark was tied for third in the SEC, and she was the only nonupperclassman player within the top-13. Horston was named to the 2022 Ann Meyers Drysdale Preseason Award List.

Tamari Key Junior center Tamari Key is expected to have a big season for the Lady Volunteers picking up where she left off. Key was named to the Lisa Leslie Preseason Award watchlist, alongside Burrell, in the Preseason All-SEC Team.

“I was honored to be on one of the lists,” Key said. “I think I just want to be able to just keep working hard this season. I just want to keep getting better every day.”

Last season, Key put up 8.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, while shooting 62.8% from the field. She ranked 11th in the NCAA and second in the SEC with 72 blocks and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team.

Key’s 72 blocked shots were the eighth best single season total, and her 158 career blocks through just two seasons are also eighth in program history. Key had Tennessee’s fourth ever triple-double on Jan. 31, 2021, with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks against Florida.

Key serves as a member of the SEC StudentAthlete Leadership Council & SAAC Representative, as well as the women’s basketball representative for UT’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

7

Heated rivalries highlight the Vols’ SEC schedule JOSH LANE Sports Editor

The fans in TBA will be eager to welcome Florida after John Fulkerson suffered a face fracture at the elbow of Omar Payne in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal a year ago. Payne has since transferred out, but some wounds never heal in a rivalry this intense.

The Tennessee basketball team tips off its regular-season on Nov. 9, hosting UT Martin at Thompson-Boling Arena. It’s the first game in a gauntlet of a non-conference slate, with the hope being that when the Vols get to SEC play, they have already seen their toughest opponents of the year.

That won’t make every SEC game a guaranteed win for the Vols. Five SEC teams, including Tennessee, are currently ranked in the preseason AP Top-25.

Here’s the five biggest games from Tennessee’s SEC schedule and a few honorable mentions.

Tennessee at Alabama — Dec. 29 Tennessee will open its SEC slate in Tuscaloosa against the defending SEC Champions Alabama. The matchup has traditionally been dominated by Alabama over the years, and the last few meetings are no exception. Tennessee has lost six of its last 10 games against the Crimson Tide.

Alabama lost many of its key contributors from its 2020 run to the NBA Draft and graduation, but it still has enough talent to be ranked No. 14 in the nation. The Crimson Tide are led by preseason All-SEC players Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly. They were Alabama’s leading scorers from a year ago and figure to be just as important to third-year head coach Nate Oats.

Tennessee at Kentucky — Jan. 15 It’s not the best or even the most historic rivalry in college basketball, but you would be hard pressed to find two fanbases who despise each other more than during a TennesseeKentucky basketball game.

Kentucky has historically dominated the Vols in basketball, and it’s not even close. The Wildcats lead the Vols 91-20 all time at home, but Rick Barnes has been one of the best ever visiting coaches in Lexington. He is the only active coach to have three wins as the visiting team in Rupp Arena, and his Vols have taken the last two contests there.

Florida — Jan. 26 Barnes has only lost three times to Florida in his 10 games against the Gators. In that stretch, the Vols are a perfect 5-0 at Thompson-Boling Arena (TBA).

Kentucky — Feb. 15 Tennessee’s second matchup with Kentucky makes the list for all the same reasons as its first one did. The rivalry is just too good, especially as Kentucky looks to bounce back from an underwhelming season.

Barnes’ Vols are 4-3 against Kentucky in Knoxville in his six seasons at Tennessee, though the Wildcats have taken the last two meetings.

Auburn — Feb. 26 There’s nothing that stokes a rivalry more than a coach that had success at one school, went to a rival and started winning there too.

That’s exactly what Bruce Pearl did. He owned a 145-61 record in six seasons at Tennessee, but was fired in 2011 amid a recruiting scandal. Pearl took the head job at Auburn in 2014, and after a slow first three years, he turned Auburn into an SEC powerhouse, including a 2017-18 SEC regular season championship split with the Vols.

Honorable mentions Ole Miss — Jan. 5 Ole Miss is traditionally not a basketball school. The Rebels are a mid-tier SEC team at best, and despite them knocking off the Vols in Oxford last season, Tennessee has won five of the last six games. This matchup makes the honorable mention list because after the chaos of that October football game, these two teams and fanbases need to meet again.

LSU — Jan. 8 For whatever reason, LSU has been one of the few school Barnes has not been able to figure out. Since his first season as the Vols’ head coach in 2015-16, the Vols have gone just 2-5 against LSU, including a loss in the 2016 SEC quarterfinal. LSU head coach Will Wade has the Tigers trending in the right direction, so it’s worth watching if Barnes has figured out the winning formula.Heated rivalries highlight the Vols’ SEC schedule

Former player Jordan Bowden (23) attempting a layup against Auburn at Thompson Boling Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Sydney Goodsell / The Daily Beacon

Former star player, No. 5 Admiral Schofield, attempts a layup against UK at Thompson-Boiling on Saturday March 2, 2019 File / The Daily Beacon

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

8

Barnes addressing offseason issues early in 2021 ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

The nature of college sports is a cruel one for those who value consistency. A great player is only guaranteed four to six years on a team, and the really explosive players are often gone after just one season.

It’s not easy to create a dynasty in college sports, which makes Nick Saban at Alabama or Mike Kryzewski at Duke all the more impressive. A lot of that success comes from depth, especially in college basketball.

Tennessee was short on a true point guard to facilitate the offense last season and struggled when star forward John Fulkerson went down with an injury late in the season against Florida.

Finding a rotation that adequately disperses minutes to playmakers is tough. Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes is confident that depth will be a positive for the Vols this season, rather than a negative.

“It has been a really healthy competitive situation, and we are going to have to have that throughout the year,” Barnes said. “If we do what we like to do, we expect to go very deep into our bench. We can play at a pace that we have been working at and continue that pace.”

A lot of that depth comes from the eight newcomers Tennessee added in the offseason, replacing three NBA draftees in Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer and Yves Pons.

Even with the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation on campus, it’s not easy to replace that much firepower — something Barnes echoed after the Vols’ 103-62 exhibition victory over Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday.

“We missed Yves Pons today,” Barnes said.

“We missed his defensive fix-it plays. We did miss that.”

Five-star freshmen duo Kennedy Chandler and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield showed they are willing to help alleviate some of those losses Saturday.

The two combined for 36 points — Chandler led the team in assists with 6 and Huntley-Hatfield led the team in rebounds with 12, completing his first double-double as a Vol in game zero.

UT Guard Kennedy Chandler during the Tennessee vs Lenoir-Rhyne men’s exhibition game on Oct. 30, 2021 at Thompson-Boiling Arena, Knoxville, TN. Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon Barnes knows his team has a long way to go, especially removed from a team that ranked in the bottom half of field goal percentage last season.

The tenured head coach stressed taking open shots when the opportunity arose, which in turn would translate to better looks as the season progresses and defenses adjust.

“We want them to take open shots, we want them to,” Barnes said. “But we also feel that by doing that, it’s going to give us a chance. We have some guys that we think have the speed to drive the ball and get into those cracks. We think we are going to continue to get better with our inside presence.”

Often, those open shots are from deep, and if Tennessee’s exhibition is any indication, the Vols will be taking a different approach to their offensive philosophy this season.

The Vols took 46 shots from downtown against Lenoir-Rhyne, the second most in program history in a single game behind only a 2007 matchup against North Carolina A&T where the Vols shot 50 threes.

The Vols are hitting those shots at a high rate too, at least in practice and exhibition play.

“We played Davidson (intrasquad scrimmage) and then we played ourselves, and in all four of those games we shot over 40 threes,” Barnes said.

“We shot it at a clip of 40(%) which is about where we’ve been. We haven’t been under 40.”

We have some guys that we think have the speed to drive the ball and get into those cracks.

UT Forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield waiting to inbound the ball during the Tennessee vs LenoirRhyne men’s exhibition game on Oct. 30, 2021 at Thompson-Boiling Arena, Knoxville, TN. Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

RICK BARNES Tennessee Head Coach

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

Experienced roster set to guide Lady Vols ANDREW PETERS Staff Writer

A close look at any great college basketball team will show you that veteran leadership is a vital part of the team’s success.

The Lady Vols have that veteran core this season and will look to it for guidance throughout the course of this season.

“I think when you look at consistent teams, I think that you see veterans,” head coach Kellie Harper said. “And they don’t have to be the biggest super star veterans, but veterans make a difference. They’ve been there done that, they understand the system, they can make changes on the fly and they play with a little bit more poise at times.”

Tennessee’s roster has one senior, three graduates and four juniors. The team doesn’t lack veteran players. How those players will come into their roles as leaders will determine the success of the team this season.

One of the biggest questions of the offseason for the Lady Vols has been who will fill the role that Rennia Davis left behind. Davis was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx No. 9 overall and leaves behind a void at the guard position.

Harper is looking to senior Rae Burrell and junior Jordan Horston to step up big in the guard slots this season.

“Our team has to look a little different to be successful because we don’t have Rennia to throw it to and then sit back and watch,” Harper said. “Right now, we just need Rae to be Rae, and Jordan’s game has matured a lot over the course of her career here.”

Burrell recognizes her role as a leader and is ready to step into that role both on and off the court.

Jordan Horston, No. 25, makes an attempted shot at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

UT women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper answers the press during media day on Oct. 28, 2021 in the Ray & Lucy Hand Digital Studio, Knoxville, TN. Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

“I feel like I need to really focus on being a good leader for this team, too, whether that’s scoring or just vocally showing how to be a good leader,” Burrell said. “There is pressure, but I trust in myself and my teammates to keep me level-headed to be a good leader.”

Burrell is coming off a season where she averaged 16.8 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Another player that Tennessee is looking to for leadership is Jordan Walker. She is going into her second season at Tennessee after transferring from Western Michigan. Though she hasn’t been with the team as long as others, she still sees an opportunity to lead younger Lady Vols.

“I know that when I talk, they listen and when they talk, I listen,” Walker said. “I feel like we’ve built that trust with each other to be able to say certain things to each other. We know it’s coming out of love and coming out of wanting each other to be better and be the best player that we can be.”

Tennessee has a number of other players that it can look to night in and night out. Tamari Key offers height and experience in the paint and is coming off a season where she averaged nearly 3 blocks per game.

“The sky is the limit for her projection,” Harper said. “For her, a lot of her growth this year and summer was the mental side. The understanding and wanting the basketball. Understanding how to work to get the basketball.

Walking on the court with a presence and confidence. That’s where we will see big leaps from her this year.”

The Lady Vols have a long season ahead of them and the team will look to its veterans to win games while also offering guidance for younger players.

“I think you rely on your experience in a lot of ways. You can’t skip that step,” Harper said.

“They are going to be able to share those experiences with (freshman) but also walk on the court confident in a lot of situations.”

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Lady Vols excited for challenge of non-conference schedule RILEY THOMAS Contributor

In previous seasons, the Lady Vols have never shied away from playing the top programs in college basketball. This year is nothing different.

On top of the already daunting SEC schedule, the Lady Vols will be playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country for the 2021-2022 season.

Tennessee is slated to take on five teams ranked in the preseason top-25 in the nonconference slate, including two of the top-3 teams in the country, Stanford and Connecticut.

“Regardless of where I have coached, my philosophy has always been to challenge our team in the non-conference schedule,” head coach Kellie Harper said. “We understand what the SEC is going to be. We understand it’s going to be a huge challenge. You’re talking about the best conference in the country.”

“Our non-conference schedule needs to help push us to be the best team that we can be but also prepare us for our SEC schedule as well.

You come to Tennessee to play the best. You come here to compete at an elite level. When

we put our schedule together, that is what we are planning on doing.”

The Lady Vols have tough assignments right out of the gate. After the home opener against Southern Illinois, they hit the road and head to Orlando for the first major road test of the season versus the University of Central Florida on Nov. 12.

Tennessee returns home the following week, but it doesn’t get any easier as the first slate of ranked opponents head to ThompsonBowling Arena. They open the week on Nov. 15 against another team from the state of Florida in No. 21 South Florida, and conclude the week on Nov. 21 versus No. 25 Texas.

After the Lady Vols wrap up that slate of home games, they will head to Las Vegas for the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. One Lady Vol in particular is pumped to return home and play in front of family and friends.

“I’m so excited, because I’m all the way in Tennessee and it’s not easy for them to come down here,” Las Vegas native, Rae Burrell said.

“Especially for long distance friends and family, I am very excited for them to just see me play in person.”

Over the course of the Shootout, Tennessee will battle against Kansas on Nov. 26, before ending the tournament against Oklahoma State on Nov. 27.

The Lady Vols return home on Dec. 1 to take on in-state opponent Tennessee Tech before hitting the road again for another road test in Blacksburg against No. 24 Virginia Tech.

On Dec. 12, Tennessee is back home and taking on a lesser opponent in Georgia State, but the next program they face off is an entirely different story.

On Dec. 18, the reigning National Champions and the third-ranked team in the country, the Stanford Cardinal, comes to Knoxville in the biggest game of the season thus far. Historically, Tennessee has owned the Cardinal, as it has 25 wins and only 12 losses to Stanford.

However, the last time the programs faced off in 2019, Stanford walloped Tennessee by 27 points, 78-51.

Following the massive game against Stanford, Tennessee has some tune-up games before getting conference play underway, in ETSU on Dec. 20 and Chattanooga on Dec. 27.

The final non-conference game slated for the Big Orange comes in the middle of the SEC season when the Lady Vols head to Hartford, Connecticut, to duel against No. 2 ranked UConn.

The two schools faced off every single season from 1995-2007 before taking a 13 year hiatus until they resumed the rivalry in 2020.

UConn leads the series 15-9 and has won the

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last two, including a come-from-behind victory lead by the Naismith Player of the Year, Paige Bueckers, in Knoxville, 67-61.

These games will not be easy by any means for the Lady Vols, but each player and coach on the staff is looking forward to going against this quality of competition when the season starts on Nov. 10.

“I’m excited. I’m excited just to go against the competition and compete,” guard Jordan Walker said. “I know that our team is going to go out and compete every single night. Just to be able to play against teams like that is amazing.”

Former player Rennia Davis, No. 0, and Rae Burrell, No. 12, make an attempt at rebounding a shot at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday, February 16th, 2020. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

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Chandler leads talented class of Tennessee newcomers JOSH LANE Sports Editor

Rick Barnes put together his best recruiting class as Tennessee’s head coach this past offseason, with five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler as the biggest get in an already loaded class.

Chandler committed to the Vols in August of 2020 over other offers from Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and other high-profile schools.

Going somewhere that felt like family was an important part in Chandler’s — a Memphis, Tennessee, native — decision.

“I was looking for a program that could help me develop and have a strong family atmosphere and a coach I could relate to,” Chandler said to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi after his commitment. “Tennessee and Rick Barnes made me feel that way.”

All Chandler has done since the day he committed is boost his stock tremendously. He led his high school, Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, to the championship game of the GEICO Nationals Tournament and earned All-American honors from McDonald’s, Spalding and Sports Illustrated for his efforts.

Over the summer, Chandler was part of the

12-man USA Basketball Men’s U19 Team that won gold at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Riga, Latvia. Chandler had a slight scare during the tournament when he took a hard fall during the semifinal game, but he escaped with no serious injuries.

When Chandler arrived on campus after spending the summer in Latvia, it was easy to see why he was the nation’s No. 1 point guard recruit. He always has a calm, steady demeanor with the ball, translating to good handling and vision. Chandler has great speed and can finish at the basket too, despite being just 6-foot tall and 171 pounds.

“He’s an amazing point guard, even before coming here I saw him play a lot,” fellow freshman Brandon Huntley-Hatfield said about Chandler. “I love the way he plays, a pass-first point guard, he’s really explosive. Really about staying up to pace with him, he’s really fast, that makes us play fast.”

Chandler’s talent was put on display in Knoxville for the first time in last Saturday’s exhibition game against Lenoir-Rhyne. Chandler started and played 22 minutes in his debut for the Vols, leading the team with 21 points, along with 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

Chandler’s calm demeanor is what stands out to Barnes just one game into his Tennessee career, especially for a 19-year old. Chandler has some work to do in terms of keeping that de-

meanor consistent for 40 minutes, but his work ethic and inquisitive nature lend well to that.

“He wants to learn, he’s constantly asking me questions about ‘What do I need to do,’” Barnes said. “As he learns to control his speed and his pace, we often talk to him about the difference between driving on the freeway and driving in New York City. You’re going to have to figure out the two of them at times. He’ll get that, he’ll get it, but right now he’s somewhere in between.”

Once Chandler does figure that out, he will be hard to stop, especially considering who he is on the floor with. Chandler is just one piece of a seven-player recruiting class ranked No. 4 in the nation. Huntley-Hatfield, another five-star forward, was just as coveted a prospect as Chandler was.

Those two are joined by four-star Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack, and three-star Quentin Diboundje, Zakai Zeigler and Handje Tamba.

Sophomore guard Justin Powell, a transfer from Auburn, rounds out the list of the Vols’ eight newcomers.

With so much turnover on a roster, building chemistry between players is of the upmost importance. For the Vols, that process has been much easier due to more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.

The Vols saw the result of good chemistry Saturday. With Chandler’s status as a prospect, he could keep the spotlight on himself as he

Huntley-Hatfield surpasses high expectations early ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes knew he was getting a power forward with shocking athleticism and elite defensive ability from five-star freshman prospect Brandon HuntleyHatfield when he committed to Tennessee in mid-April.

Barnes is a coach who has shown he won’t hesitate to give a starting nod to experience over potential when minutes are a question mark on the court, especially in the early stages of the year.

In last season’s opener against Colorado, Barnes had two first round NBA selections, Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson, come into the game off the bench.

Once again, Barnes elected for a mostly upperclassmen starting five in Tennessee’s exhibition matchup against Lenoir-Rhyne, apart from Kennedy Chandler, a true point guard opposed to Santiago Vescovi’s off-ball prowess. Junior forward Olivier Nkamhoua started ahead of Huntley-Hatfield in the lineup.

So it was surprising for Barnes when HuntleyHatfield came off the bench and led the Vols in plus/minus on the afternoon in a 103-62 blowout, scoring 15 points and terrorizing the boards for 12 rebounds.

“I’ll tell you (Huntley-Hatfield) surprised me

today a little bit,” Barnes said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. He’s taken a giant step in terms of understanding more. He’s a guy that I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t get better and better each day.”

Huntley-Hatfield is far from an average big man. The 6-foot-10 freshman led both squads in rebounding and recorded his first double-double of his Vols career against Lenoir-Rhyne in what was an almost mistake-free performance on the stat sheet.

Huntley-Hatfield recorded just 2 personal fouls and committed zero turnovers in his efficient debut.

He also showcased a surprising amount of skill with the basketball in his hands, facilitating

plays for others in a point guard-esque manner. If Huntley-Hatfield got the ball in the paint, it often ended with 2 points on the board.

“Brandon loves passing …” Barnes said. “I actually heard Brandon telling the guys, ‘if they want to double team me, I’ll find you.’”

“He really sees the court and you asked if it’s an advantage any time you have post guys who can pass the ball — it’s a huge advantage having guys who can move and get their hands on it.”

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racks up points each and every night, and no one would blame him. But that’s not how he plays the game.

UT Guard Kennedy Chandler going for a dunk in warmups during the University of Tennessee vs Lenoir-Rhyne men’s exhibition game on Oct. 30 Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

For Chandler, everything goes back to the family mindset. That’s why he committed to Tennessee in the first place. No one player is more important than the other. Everybody shares the same goal in the end.

“I want everyone to feel comfortable on the court,” Chandler said. “Nobody looking down on themselves. I try to get everybody involved. I feel like I’ve always had that mindset of finding my teammates open first and to get everybody on the same page. We are all comfortable with each other. Our main goal is to win.”

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Winning experience for Harper’s culture shift BRANDON SHOWN Contributor There are two very important things to know about this Lady Vol basketball team: One, they have the longest streak of any women’s basketball team for making the postseason NCAA tournament. And two, they have appeared in all 39 tournaments since its inception in 1982.

This is Kellie Harper’s third year coaching at Tennessee. She was a player for the Lady Vols from 1995-99 under legendary head coach Pat Summit, where she helped win three national titles.

This will be Harper’s second “normal” season on Rocky Top since the COVID-19 pandemic created a strange 2020-21 campaign for everyone.

Harper knows how to win championships, stemming from her time in college. She also won two conference championships as the head coach at Missouri State.

Harper has instilled a “trust the process” mantra on her team, and her experience winning has been nothing but beneficial for the Lady Vols.

“Coming from the point guard perspective, being coached by a point guard who won a national championship three times is an amazing thing in itself,” graduate guard Jordan Walker said. “To be able to learn from her and just trust that she knows what she’s talking about because she’s done this, makes it easy to trust the process.”

Tennessee has multiple players this year expected to find their footing and step into a leadership position. Harper has been tremendously helpful in that regard.

“I can call her at any time and talk to her about anything,” junior guard Jordan Horston said about Harper. “She’s always there pushing me, and she believes in me. I feel like that has really helped me. When things are not going particularly my way or I’m having a bad day, she’s always there to pick me up. She’s there.

Just play my hardest, she constantly instills that confidence in me to help lead this team to something greater.”

Harper’s philosophy within the program is certainly helped by the number of returners the Lady Vols have this season. Tennessee had a major hole from Rennia Davis’ departure in the WNBA Draft, but the majority of the team and starters are still here.

“I think when you look at consistent teams, I think that you see veterans,” Harper said. “And they don’t have to be the biggest super star veterans, but veterans make a difference. They’ve been there done that, they understand the system, they can make changes on the fly and they play with a little bit more poise at times.”

2021

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Josh Lane Sports Editor (43-20) Tennessee (35) vs. Kentucky (24) Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Auburn vs. Texas A&M Penn State vs. Maryland Texas vs. Iowa State Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Florida vs. South Carolina

UT Women’s Basketball coach Kellie Harper talks with Associate Director of Sports Medicine Casi Dailey during media day on Oct. 28, 2021 at Pratt Pavilion, Knoxville, TN. Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

“I am excited about all of our returners and I know we talk about Rae and Jordan and Tamari, but Jordan Walker, Keyen Green and Tess Darby, Jessie (Rennie) and Emily (Saunders) are players that have been here. They know drills, they know plays, they know philosophy and they know the opponents. There is just a confidence and a poise that a veteran team has.”

While many teams struggle to find their identity, Tennessee is already on a path to finding its own. The Lady Vols’ goal is to be a fast-paced, physical team with a focus on winning and being able to play the game the right way.

“We’re just really excited when we step on the court just for the opportunity,” junior Tamari Key said. “We’re looking forward to the season and not just one team in particular.”

One of the biggest factors when establishing a team’s culture is how veteran players get on board, and how newcomers adjust. The Lady Vols feel that they are off on the right step.

“I would say we’re meshing really well,” senior Rae Burrell said. “They came in and I feel like we got comfortable pretty easily. They really help us when we’re playing by telling us little comments or trying to help with anything individually that we need help on. They’re also just really fun people to be around. I think we meshed really well when they came in.”

There are many things to watch out for this season. How will leadership play a factor? How long will it take for players find their footing?

How will this team react to a difficult strength of schedule?

Only time will tell, but for now, Harper is focused on instilling that winning mentality in her players. Everything else will take care of itself.

“We have great chemistry and really play for each other,” Harper said. “I think we are really progressing and moving in the right direction ... The prospects of this year are really exciting and the style of play that I think we can put on the court. I’m really looking forward to getting going.”

Ben Goldberger Opinions Editor (42-21) Tennessee (38) vs. Kentucky (28) Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Auburn vs. Texas A&M Penn State vs. Maryland Texas vs. Iowa State Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Florida vs. South Carolina

Caleigh Rozmenoski Managing Editor (42-21) Tennessee (37) vs. Kentucky (22) Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Auburn vs. Texas A&M Penn State vs. Maryland Texas vs. Iowa State Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Florida vs. South Carolina

Ethan Stone Asst. Sports (41-22) Tennessee (34) vs. Kentucky (31) Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Auburn vs. Texas A&M Penn State vs. Maryland Texas vs. Iowa State Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Florida vs. South Carolina

Alexandra Ashmore Photo Editor (39-24) Tennessee (42) vs. Kentucky (30) Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Auburn vs. Texas A&M Penn State vs. Maryland Texas vs. Iowa State Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Florida vs. South Carolina

Sarah Rainey Editor-in-Chief (35-28) Tennessee (34) vs. Kentucky (27) Wake Forest vs. North Carolina Auburn vs. Texas A&M Penn State vs. Maryland Texas vs. Iowa State Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Florida vs. South Carolina