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Tennessee Basketball: 5 Things Vols Have to do to be Successful in SEC Play

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 18, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes yells during the second half of the Battle on Broadway against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Bridgestone Arena. Gonzaga won 86-76. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes yells during the second half of the Battle on Broadway against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Bridgestone Arena. Gonzaga won 86-76. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Admiral Schofield (5) looks to pass the ball against the Presbyterian Blue Hose during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee won 90 to 50. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Admiral Schofield (5) looks to pass the ball against the Presbyterian Blue Hose during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee won 90 to 50. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Physical Play from Point Forwards

This has been an issue for Tennessee basketball ever since Admiral Schofield got suspended. So we will start with him.

Schofield was supposed to be a star here and replace Armani Moore easily. The 6’4″ 238-pound sophomore can stretch the floor with his shot, play big underneath the basket, use his athleticism to make hustle plays, and keep the offense together as a great passer.

But he’s not been able to do any of those things since coming back from suspension. Since then, he’s averaged just over five points a game and is shooting worse than 30 percent from the field. He also has five turnovers and one assist during that time.

And the only two games he got more than one rebound were against Tennessee Tech and Presbyterian.

Simply put, Schofield’s been awful. Barnes turned to Grant Williams in his suspension, and both showed flashes just like Shembari Phillips.

But Fulkerson is now out for a while, and Williams is young and developing at the same time. So Schofield should be the main point-forward here while Williams provides depth.

Together, they are key. For starters, they help the point guards keep the group together in the half-court offense. And they are supposed to complement the bigs, Kyle Alexander and Lew Evans.

So if Tennessee basketball is going to make a run in the SEC, they have to get better.

But while they have to do the physical stuff away from the basket, this next guy is key to everything.

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