Tennessee basketball: Five preseason storylines for 2019-2020 Vols

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2. Are there other potential contributors in the front-court?

Given how much we stressed Tennessee basketball’s need to have the NCAA grant an eligibility waiver for Arizona State Sun Devils transfer Uros Plavsic, it’s clear that the Vols need help in the front-court immediately.

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As we have mentioned, the return of Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden along with the addition of five-star guard Josiah-Jordan games gives them options in the back-court. But up front, losing Grant Williams, Kyle Alexander and Admiral Schofield is a killer.

Derrick Walker and D.J. Burns transferring wrecked Rick Barnes’s plans for the future there. Sure, Yves Pons could provide some minutes at power-forward, but at 6’6″ 215 pounds, he would never be nearly enough. And even if Plavsic got the waiver, Barnes needs more bodies there.

We mentioned Zach Kent and John Fulkerson as potential veterans to step up. At 6’11” 235 pounds, Kent would be a valuable addition. But the redshirt sophomore only appeared in two games last year. Fulkerson has the chance to be effective at 6’9″ 212 pounds. The redshirt junior even started an NCAA Tournament game. However, he hasn’t proven to be consistent yet.

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Outside of those guys, Barnes has some freshmen he can turn to. Davonte Gaines is listed as a guard at 6’7″, but if he gained weight to his 178-pound frame he could play some forward. The same is true for Drew Pember at 6’9″ 207 pounds. But the main guy who could do it is Olivier Nkamhoua, a 6’8″ 224-pound guy who could be good to go. Can one of them step up?

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