Tennessee basketball: Vols most recent offer makes little sense

Tennessee basketball offered Josaphat Bilau a power forward in the 2019 recruiting class. The offer is surprising and makes little sense.

Are we to the point where we can criticize Rick Barnes for the recruiting moves he is making for the Tennessee basketball team? After all, he is the third highest paid coach in all of the land. Shouldn’t we be in on the four and five-star guys?

I know I’m about to make a portion of the fan base mad, but those are the same people that thought Butch Jones was a good head coach. The same people that thought Jones deserved another season in Knoxville.

I love all of Vol Nation, those fans matter. We have to be the shining light for those poor souls and help them walk down the right path. I’m not suggesting everything I say is the gospel, but I’m right more than I’m wrong. And, (right now) I’m out on the way Rick Barnes recruits.

On Friday Barnes extended an offer to 6-foot-11, 200-pound power forward. Josaphat Bilau is a part of the 2019 class and has no stars according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He does have offers from Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Kansas State, Illinois, Texas Tech, Wichita State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Again no stars and a part of the 2019 class.

Just because the Vols offered doesn’t mean Bilau is going to sign, but I have a problem with this for many reasons.

Number one, the roster is full.

What this tells me is there is a player on the move. So, more turnover. Now, not all turnover is bad. However, it leads to more, which brings up a question. Who’s leaving?

We can speculate all day, but I think the writing is on the wall. There are a few players that haven’t played and a few that Barnes clearly doesn’t trust in game situations. At this point, I’d say Tennessee can’t really afford for anyone else to leave the program after four starters are gone.

Number two, what about Kerry Blackshear Jr.?

If you are still in on grad transfer Blackshear Jr., then why offer another guy? I understand you need players and can’t throw all your eggs in one basket, but the push for Blackshear has been minimum it seems.

Number three, get a guard.

Last year one of the knocks from me on Rick Barnes was the lack of depth and his inability to let guys play through mistakes, especially in blow out situations. Why are the starters in the game when you are beating Georgia by 30 points?

The lack of depth was even worse in the frontcourt. Josiah-Jordan James should help that, but Jordan Bone moved on to the NBA. Drew Pember, Davonte Gaines, Olivier Nkamhoua, and Uros Plavsic are all forwards or centers.

Here is the argument against me: “But, look what Barnes did with Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, and Jordan Bone.”

I’m going to go all in and say those three were just special players.

How about we look what Barnes hasn’t done with Jalen Johnson, the highest-rated recruit in Tennessee’s 2016 class. Or what about four-star Yves Pons? How about Chris Darrington, Zach Kent, or Derrick Walker?

You have to look at it both ways. Praise him if you must with the good but, look at the big picture without your orange-colored glasses on, and you’ll see a little bit of worry.

Now, the 2020 class has the potential to be Top-10 in the nation. If Barnes is able to pull that type of class, then the narrative changes. However, offering a power forward in the 2019 class when the roster is full, you’re still in on Blackshear, and you need guards makes little sense.