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Tennessee Basketball: 5 Things to Address this Offseason

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 6, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 76-65. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 06: Tennessee Volunteers players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 6, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 76-65. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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3. Post Rotation?

One of my most prominent accomplishments is being the greatest armchair coach in the history of the world. This year my coaching ability was on display every game questioning the questionable rotation.

It’s hard to knock coach Rick Barnes after all this past Tennessee team was projected to finish 13th in the SEC Standings and they ended up co-champs of the regular season. But, the rotations were somewhat baffling.

At times the young Derrick Walker looked like he could hang with the big boys and then he would have games where he only played two minutes. Walker showed out against the Gamecocks in Columbia where he went 5-for-5 from the field for ten points and four rebounds.

John Fulkerson’s -a.k.a. “The Fulk”- playing time was the same way. There were periods of time where Fulkerson was the first big off the bench and was in the game at crucial times. Other times, Fulkerson would only get five minutes and some games he wouldn’t even step on the floor other than warm-ups.

So, what needs to happen going forward? Every indication, barring injury, is the Vols starting lineup will look the same next season. Williams and Alexander down low. I’m not so sure why Fulkerson and Walker couldn’t provide 15 minutes each a game.

Walker looked a bit slow on defense, but with another offseason of conditioning, he could be ready for the college game. Fulkerson, on the other hand, needs to get healthy. He showed fans what he was capable of during his freshman season at the Maui Invitation.

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