This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.Today, we have enlisted RBK of the BruceBall Blog to break down the Tennessee Volunteers.
The Tennessee Vols are coming off of back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances under Coach Bruce Pearl, and last season's 31 wins were tops in the program's history. Tennessee fans were disappointed in the finish, hoping that the 2007-2008 Volunteers would be the first ever to break through to the Elite Eight. It was not meant to be, and this year's Vols appear to be in somewhat of a transition mode after the loss of three senior guards including the SEC's all-time three-point shot leader, Chris Lofton.
Returning for the Vols are juniors Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, J.P. Prince, and Josh Tabb, along with sophomore Brian Williams. Tennessee's lone senior, forward Ryan Childress, underwent offseason surgery to repair a serious knee injury and it's uncertain if he will be able to return at all. The seven new additions to the Vol roster bring a mix of size, athleticism, and speed that will look to transform Tennessee from a quicker, perimeter-oriented team to more of a long, slashing team.
Redshirt freshman Cameron Tatum, freshman Renaldo Woolridge and McDonald's All-American Scotty Hopson add height and athleticism at the wings that Tennessee has not had in years past. In the post, Emmanuel Negedu looks to make an immediate impact with his speed and intensity, while Pearl will probably look to redshirt Phillip Jurick. A big hole exists at point guard, where the Vols return very little; only wing Prince has played minutes at the point for Tennessee.
Junior College transfer Bobby Maze and freshman Daniel West look to fill the hole, but West's eligibility is now in doubt as an academic issue has him sidelined.
Smith is the preseason favorite for SEC player of the year and will undoubtedly be the go-to guy on a team that lost its best perimeter scorers. He will likely play at both the wing and power forward positions, creating matchup difficulties for opponents. A jack of all trades, expect Smith to fill up the stat sheet this year with assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks in addition to his scoring.
The Vols will also lean on Chism, who has been dominant at times in the post, and Prince, who is a matchup nightmare with his height, handle, and court vision. Tabb is a defensive stopper at the wing, while Williams is a steady inside presence that will clean up the glass effectively. Beyond these five, Tennessee will lean heavily on its newcomers, and it is likely that at least two of them will start from day one at the guard positions.
Why they should be ranked here: Bruce Pearl has an incredible ability to motivate, and the hustle plays have been a big part of the reason Tennessee has found success against the top teams on its schedule for the past three years. I would expect the young, talented newcomers to play hard for Pearl and make an impact right away, offsetting the loss of Lofton and JaJuan Smith enough that the team's veterans can carry it early. By March, this Volunteer team will be a tough out.
Why they should be ranked higher: Tennessee has won 77 games in three years with, by most accounts, less talent than many of the teams they have beaten. The roster is now stocked with players recruited by Pearl and his staff, and the athleticism, speed, and size of the team will finally be able to match up with opposing rosters in the SEC and the nation's elite teams. The up-and-down, full-court game that Tennessee plays will finally be fully realized with a roster full of players recruited to match it.
Why they should be ranked lower: Lofton and Smith are gone, and with them goes the potential to be lights-out from the perimeter. The Vols also have a huge void to fill at point guard, which is particularly troublesome with West's eligibility in question. To top it off, Tennessee has a brutal non-conference schedule that includes Memphis, Kansas, Gonzaga, Marquette, and the Old Spice Classic field that includes Georgetown, Michigan State, Maryland, and a possible second game with Gonzaga. That's a difficult road for a team with seven newcomers on a roster of thirteen.
Thanks to RBK of the BruceBall blog for coming into the 'House to break down the Vols.
