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Tennessee basketball: Offseason question for Vols from ESPN

By Billy Williford

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Members of the Tennessee Volunteers team huddle before the game against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Members of the Tennessee Volunteers team huddle before the game against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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It’s the middle of summer and the college basketball season is five months away. But, that doesn’t stop ESPN from asking offseason questions.

If you haven’t read Myron Medcalf articles on ESPN, you’re surely missing out on some freezing cold takes. Like this past season when he had Arizona to the Final Four. Or when he had Davidson beating Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

This is coming from the same guy that thinks Michigan State winning the National Title last season was a “bold prediction.” A bold prediction would have been having Loyola-Chicago to the Final Four. But, whatever Medcalf, you do you man. You’re still around, and I’m writing an article with you in it. So, kudos, I suppose.

Anyways, the reason for this post is because Medcalf asked a question about every Way-Too-Early Top 25 team.

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His question for Tennessee basketball was, Can the Vols lead from the front of the pack? Silly question, I think. However, I’m not going to rip Medcalf for the question because I understand where it’s coming from. I’m guessing front of the pack as in top ten in the nation.

Now, I’ll argue that Tennessee was the “front of the pack” in the SEC for most of the season last year and teams still struggled to beat them. By early February, the Vols were 8-3 in the SEC and was in the top four in the standings.

From that point on Tennessee lost only two SEC games and one game was against Alabama which came at the tail end of a six-game winning streak.

So in a sense, they led from the front of the pack most of the season despite being picked to finish at the bottom of the SEC.

Moving forward, this shouldn’t even be a question for the Vols. Tennessee basketball returns everyone expect John Daniel III. And, talk about consistency, every indication is that the Vols will put the same starting lineup with Bone, Bowden, Schofield, Williams, and Alexander on the floor next season.

With an offseason under the belts of players line Yves Pons, Jalen Johnson, and Derrick Walker, the Vols will improve if that is even possible.

Next: 5 teams the Vols should play a home and home against

So, Medcalf here is a bold prediction, yes the Vols lead from the front of the pack. In fact, they will do just fine in doing so. Don’t be surprised if we see Tennessee basketball in their first Final Four in program history next season.

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