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Tennessee basketball: 5 bold predictions for Vols 2019-2020 season

By Billy Williford

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: Lamonte Turner #1 and Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers react after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 83-77 in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: Lamonte Turner #1 and Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers react after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 83-77 in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MARCH 28: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after losing to the Purdue Boilermakers in overtime of 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: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after losing to the Purdue Boilermakers in overtime of 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) /

1. Won’t make the NCAA Tournament

Yes, I know this is nothing Vol fans want to hear. How can a team that won 31 games and was ranked No.1 in the nation for six weeks miss the NCAA Tournament the following year? Losing four starters, that’s how.

It’s not a foregone conclusion that Grant Williams and Jordan Bone will keep their names listed in the 2019 NBA Draft. However, losing both of them plus Admiral Schofield and Kyle Alexander certainly makes receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament an uphill climb.

Can the Vols have a successful season without Williams and Bone? They could. But, be real with yourself, replacing the back-to-back SEC Player of the Year is an impossible task. And, Bone was easily the best point guard in the SEC last season.

Keep in mind Tennessee will have three new commits on the roster plus D.J. Burns should receive significant minutes. And, I haven’t even mentioned the potential of Jalen Cone, Kerry Blackshear Jr., or any other transfer that could be apart of the rotation next season.

Next. Vols 5 best seasons without hanging any banners. dark

I’m not saying the Vols won’t make the NCAA Tournament next season. Remember the post is about bold predictions. If I were to bet, I would have Tennessee in right now, but that could change in a hurry.

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