Entering the 2024-25 season, there were two lines of thought surrounding Tennessee Basketball. The first was that the Vols would have a drop-off after losing such an elite player like Dalton Knecht. However, others felt they may have their best team ever by replacing Knecht in the aggregate with a series of transfers and developing talent.
Injuries, a loss of midseason transfers and an incoming transfer not living up to his potential, though, were not on the radar for those optimistic on the team. That’s exactly what happened to the Vols, though, and Rick Barnes still has them back in the Elite Eight for a second straight year.
Remember, Barnes expected to replace Knecht with a combination of Chaz Lanier, Darlinstone Dubar and Igor Milicic Jr., all of whom transferred to Tennessee Basketball as elite scorers expecting to fine-tune their game. Dubar, however, dealt with a personal issue last summer and never fully turned into himself this year.
Meanwhile, his interior presence was meant to include the athleticism of new Ohio State Buckeyes transfer Felix Okpara Jr. and returning big man J.P. Estrella, who would be the finesse force under the basket. Estrella, however, suffered a season-ending injury early, so UT has been forced to turn to Cade Phillips, who still just isn’t quite ready.
Then there’s Cameron Carr, whose return to UT is what prompted both Freddie Dilione and D.J. Jefferson to hit the portal. Well, Carr, an elite wing, hit the portal in December out of the blue and joined the Baylor Bears. That was never a part of Barnes’ plan.
All of a sudden, after losing five rotational players and four starters last year, Barnes had to deal with the loss of two players he planned to use in his rotation this year and another just not working out the way he was supposed to. That’s allowed him to only go seven-deep at times, and it’s been a roller coaster.
Somehow, though, he got the Vols to No. 1 for a period of time in the regular season, back to the Elite Eight and a 30-win season. He’s had help with two of the greatest seniors one could ask for to lead a program in Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack, but he he deserves his own respect.
Barnes has already proven he can adjust much better than most people his age can. Now he’s proving he can adjust in the season better than most coaches of all ages can. What he’s done with Tennessee Basketball this year is nothing short of a miracle, and that shouldn’t be lost on this run.
