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Tennessee basketball: Where will the offensive points come from?

By Billy Williford

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 17: Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers gives celebrates after 84-64 win over the Tennessee Volunteers during the final of the SEC Basketball Championships at Bridgestone Arena on March 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 17: Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers gives celebrates after 84-64 win over the Tennessee Volunteers during the final of the SEC Basketball Championships at Bridgestone Arena on March 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee basketball team looks to replace a lot of scoring from a season ago, particularly from the three-point line. Can they do it?

Jordan Bone makes his decision on his future with the NBA Draft sometime on Wednesday, the last possible day for players to make their decision. We’ve talked about it, and everyone knows that Admiral Schofield, Grant Williams, and Kyle Alexander aren’t coming back. But, add Jordan Bone to that mix, and there is a lot of three-point shots not coming back next season.

Schofield led the way next season connecting on 177 attempts and led the team (over 30 attempts) with a 41.8 percentage from deep. The big shot senior pulled Tennessee out of the mud time and time again. Easily the most clutch on the team.

Losing Bone’s outside game will hurt more than most fans might think. The junior guard attempted 141 shots from deep last season. Surprisingly Bone connected on 35.5 percent from deep and had games, like against Kentucky, where he was unstoppable.

Finally, Grant was steady from deep although he didn’t take too many. Williams was 15-for-46 from behind the three-point line.

Between Schofield, Bone, and Williams the Vols lose 139 made three-pointers. That’s over 400 points and roughly 50 points per game.

Last week we wrote a post about Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden stepping up in a big way. Both guys combined for 21 points per game while shooting over 32 percent from deep. There is no doubt those two will be the leaders next season. However, Jalen Johnson could be the next player to step up and make the big shots.

Johnson appeared in 26 games last season averaging roughly six minutes per game. After season one in Knoxville, everyone expected more than six minutes per game. He has the offensive tools. Johnson attempted 20 three-point shots last season. He connected on nine of them for a 45 percent average.

No, that isn’t a huge sample size. But, hitting 45 percent is impressive. Can Johnson do that next season? Will there be extended minutes for him?

Next. Grant Williams’ 10 greatest games with Vols. dark

All those questions will be answered, but you have to think it’s now or never for a guy that has a ton of offensive potential. One thing is for sure; the Vols have to replace a lot of scoring from a 31-win team a season ago.

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