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Tennessee basketball: 5 things for Vols to address this offseason

By Billy Williford

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 28: The Tennessee Volunteers huddle prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at the KFC YUM! Center on March 28, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 28: The Tennessee Volunteers huddle prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at the KFC YUM! Center on March 28, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 26: Derek Culver #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers and Derrick Walker #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers work for position during the second half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 26, 2019, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 83-66. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 26: Derek Culver #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers and Derrick Walker #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers work for position during the second half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 26, 2019, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 83-66. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

No.3 – Develop big men

It’s a guards game. You win or lose with guard play in March. And, while you could certainly make that argument, big men are just as important. Tennessee was the perfect example of that a season ago.

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No, I don’t live in the past but the Vols were without Kyle Alexander, and they couldn’t make it past Loyola-Chicago. Was Alexander the best player on each roster? No. But, he made a huge difference, and it showed in the game.

Look at this year. Lamonte Turner didn’t play against No.1 Gonzaga and Memphis, yet the Vols were still able to get wins. Great guard play wins National Championships, but good post play gets you there.

That is why it is crucial for Barnes to get on the ball developing the low post talent the Vols have on the roster. We’ve already talked about the impacted John Fulkerson can make on games, but he needs an offensive game.

D.J. Burns will be ready to go next season, and with the departure of Alexander and potential Grant Williams, the Vols will need him to play big.

Then, there is Derrick Walker who showed signs his freshman season that he could contribute. Yet, it looked like he took a step back this season.

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