STF Preseason Rankings: #5 Tennessee Volunteers

Since real, live games tip off today, this is no longer a pre-season poll. These teams are the ones with all the pressure - the ones that are expected to go to the Final Four in Indianapolis (with one alternate, obviously). The fact that it is very unlikely that all five of them will even survive the opening weekend of the tourney is what makes college hoops our favorite sport on earth.

#5 Tennessee Volunteers

Location: Knoxville, TN

Conference: SEC

2008-09 Record: 21-13 (10-6)

NCAA Postseason: Lost to Oklahoma State in first round 75-77

Head Coach: Bruce Pearl (5th Season)

Losses: Graduation - 5'11" G Justin Jackson (1 game, no points), 6'0" G Tanner Wild (0.8 ppg), 6'9" F Ryan Childress (1.2 ppg).

Key Returnees: 6'7" Senior F Tyler Smith (17.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg), 6'9" Senior F Wayne Chism (13.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 6'7" Senior F J.P. Prince (9.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.2 apg), 6'2" Senior G Bobby Maze (8.2 ppg, 3.2 apg), 6'7" Sophomore F Scotty Hopson (9.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6'10" Junior C Brian Williams (5.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6'6" Sophomore F Cam Tatum (7.6 ppg)

Additions: 5'11" Junior G Melvin Goins (Mt. San Jacinto College transfer), 6'3" G Josh Bone (Southern Illinois transfer), 6'3" G Skylar McBee (Rutledge, TN), 6'8" F Kenny Hall (Stone Mountain, GA).

The Skinny:

I know what you're thinking: "Sure, rank them in the top 25, but fifth in the nation?" We refuse to downplay UT's experience, talent, and coaching edge just because they (and the rest of the SEC) had a crappy year in 2008-2009. All of these guys came back to wear god-awful orange unis, be overshadowed by the women's program, and get paid nothing. It wasn't for the education, hombres - these guys want to right the ship and play for a national title. We admire their pluck.

We also admire their offensive abilities. We know these Vols can score - the problem is on the other end of the court. Opponents ran roughshod over Tennessee on the defensive end of the floor last season, and that's gotta change. Nothing about the new players in Knoxville screams out "defensive stopper", so it's going to have to be all about team defense and improved hustle on the perimeter.

That's where Pearl comes in. We know he loves to run people out of the gym, but there's no doubt he knows as well as anybody that defense is what gets you to the Final Four. If he didn't know it before, last season shoulda made that clear. Their 8 vs. 9 matchup against Oklahoma State featured a blistering 57% from the floor for the Cowboys. That's bad. And it's not like the Vols could claim they were distracted by all that orange in the stands. The loss to a fledgeling DDM squad is of special note, since the DI dean of DDM, John Calipari, is now in the SEC house.

So, that's it. We're staking our reputations on Bruce Pearl's ability to turn this rock-solid roster back into a national title contender, despite a load of luggage from last year, and a resurgence at the top of their conference. Maybe it's just because we want to be able to write more Bruce Pearl posts. Maybe, just maybe... it's because we're right.

Bloggers say:

"Do three games in six days sound tough to you? Tennessee will be asked to do that twice in SEC play, with Auburn, Ole Miss, and @Alabama opening the SEC season in a six-day span, and @LSU, South Carolina, and @Vandy in a tough six-day stretch in February. I expect the SEC to improve in several ways this year, but the Vols have to be considered one of the front runners with the veteran team they have returning. The Vols play @LSU, @Alabama, and @Mississippi State from the SEC West, making for a pretty tough SEC slate overall. I'm hoping for an SEC crown but it certainly won't be easy.

I'll go on the record and say 23-24 wins prior to postseason play would be reasonable to expect from this team, with a better record certainly achievable if team chemistry is good, injuries are avoided, and the press gets better. As the time gets closer I'll provide a bit more in-depth analysis."

- The BruceBall Blog

"Will the three-point shooting improve, and how much will we rely on it?

I still have to remember that Lofton and Juanny aren't walking through those doors, because we were incredibly spoiled for two great years with both of them in the starting lineup.  When the Vols could spread the floor with those guys on either side and Tyler Smith posting up down low, good grief we were dangerous.  The Vols may not get back to the days where two guys are knocking down threes over 45% of the time, but things can still improve.

It wasn't just that Tennessee shot poorly from three last season, at 31.5% as a team.  And it wasn't just that the wealth was spread around:  Josh Tabb was the only player to break 40%, and seven guys took more threes than he did, all shooting between 27.5% (Renaldo Woolridge) and 35.7% (Hopson).

Tennessee was the worst three point shooting team in the NCAA field last season, and still jacked up 33 of them in the game against Oklahoma State.  Really, this problem goes back to the first three questions:  an inability to run an effective offense outside of jacking threes more often than not, no press and thus little transition game to create turnovers and easier scoring opportunities, and only two guys in Tyler and Wayne - and Wayne likes to shoot as much as anybody - who could create their own shot from inside the arc.

So for starters, the Vols need to run a better halfcourt offense, need the press to create the transition opportunities we all know and love from earlier BruceBall seasons, and need Scotty Hopson to become a scoring threat inside the arc.  From there, Tennessee will do less standing around and less settling for threes, and find more balanced scoring and hopefully, more open threes that are knocked down more of the time.  After the Florida game in Knoxville last season, Pearl asked if we couldn't shoot the three, or if we had good shooters that just weren't hitting.  Relying on the three less will hopefully lead to good shooters hitting them more this season.  And the more we get to use "Skylar McBee...for three!", the better."

- Rocky Top Talk

Best Games:

12/19 @ USC

12/31 @ Memphis

1/10 Kansas

2/13 @ Kentucky

2/27 Kentucky

3/6 @ Mississippi State

Pearl doesn't have the most dangerous early schedule, which is fine. He can use the November trip to the Virgin Islands to work on his beloved tan (and meet some ladies), and work on the shooting and pressing during a December run through the in-state directionals. This schedule may not prepare them particularly well for a deep run in the NCAAs, but after last season, I'm sure that won't be too troubling to anyone until later on down the road.

Famous Basketball Alums: Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Dale Ellis, Allan Houston and Tom Boerwinkle. Pat Summitt, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker.

Other Famous Alums: Kurt Vonnegut, Alex Haley, Cormac McCarthy. U.S. Astronaut Margaret Rhea. Todd Helton, Peyton Manning, Reggie White. Stud Biologist E.O. Wilson. Designing Woman Dixie Carter. Holly Anderson, of course. It's not all sunshine and roses, though. There's also Woody Paige. 

Best Places to Eat in Knoxville: I was able to personally evaluate the food scene in September, so I'll just give you the highlights.

Petro's is basically a 'roided-up frito pie, and it's a glorious mess. It's a local chain, and I know they sell them inside the football stadium, but I'm not sure about Thompson-Boling. I fully expect Grubby from Stadium Drives to chime in below and let me know. So I'll take the lazy way out.

The best BBQ in town (and a fine, dingy place to hang out and drink beers) is Backroom BBQ. On the downtown Preservation Square, have beers at Preservation Pub and late-night faux-mexican grub at Soccer Taco. Barley's Pizza comes higly recommended, as does breakfast at Sunspot, but I was only there for one full day, so I didn't get to try those.

I do have one beef with Petro's, however. I spilled some of their orange sweet tea on my iPod, and it hasn't worked right since. And I didn't even like the damn tea.

"Previously, On STF Preseason Rankings"

#6 North Carolina Tar Heels

#7 Texas Longhorns

#8 West Virginia Mountaineers

#9 California Golden Bears

#10 Purdue Boilermakers