All for Tennessee
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Tennessee basketball preview by position: Front court outlook

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 and Derrick Walker #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers react after a three-point basket against the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 and Derrick Walker #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers react after a three-point basket against the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 06: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 61-59 win against the Kentucky Wildcats in the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Projected starters

F – Kyle Alexander, Senior

First up is the big man down low, Kyle Alexander. All last season we were all over how much Alexander meant to the Vols. We also were convinced early in the season that he was one of the most improved players not only in the SEC but in the nation.

Sure, his number won’t stand out like is fellow teammates Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, but everyone can’t score 15 points a game. The Vols didn’t need that from Alexander. What they did need was rim protection with solid defense, and that’s precisely where Alexander excelled.

Take a look at his development from his freshman season.

Freshman – 12.2 mins – 43.2 FG% – 65.6 FT% – 3.2 REB – 1.0 BLK – 1.7 PTS

Junior – 20.3 mins – 68.1 FG% – 71.2 FT% – 5.6 REB – 1.7 BLK – 5.6 PTS

We look for Alexander to have another big year. I think it is unrealistic to expect eight rebounds and eight points per game just because the Vols are stacked. However, we do expect more than two double-double games from the big guy this season.

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F – Grant Williams, Junior

Can the SEC Player of the Year go back-to-back? Williams is undoubtedly good enough to do so.. If he did, he would add his name to an impressive list of players that have won the award in back-to-back seasons.

Clyde Lee – Vanderbilt, Pete Maravich – LSU (back-to-back-to-back), Bernard King – Tennessee (won it three times), Reggie King – Alabama, Dale Ellis – Tennessee, Kenny Walker – Kentucky, Chris Jackson – LSU, Shaquille O’Neal – LSU, and Corliss Williamson – Arkansas.

Williams averaged a team-high 15.2 points per game last season which was good enough for 11th in the league. He proved he was a team leader and was willing to do the dirty work for the good of the team.

We look for much of the same from Williams this season. If he could develop a three-point jumper, he could easily be one of the best players in the nation.

F – Admiral Schofield, Senior

The Governor of Mississippi came on strong late in the season and was even amidst talks of an NBA gig. I jokingly say Governor because of how well he played against the Mississippi teams last season.

His two highest scoring outputs last season came against Ole Miss (25) and Mississippi State (24). It was nice Schofield delivered in those two games, but the Vols were going to win with or without him.

One of the most impressive things about Schofield’s game last season was his ability to extend the floor. He increased his three-point shooting percentage from 38.9 percent to 39.5 percent. I know you may not think that is significant but he shot almost shot three more shots from beyond the arc per game last season.

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