Tennessee basketball: Five preseason storylines for 2019-2020 Vols

1. Can somebody take over at point guard?

We already questioned the go-to scoring option for Tennessee basketball. That’s not a concern, however, as Lamonte Turner, Jordan Bowden and Josiah-Jordan James should all be able to score for the Vols.

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What is a concern, though, is who can replace Jordan Bone at point guard. Bone was actually a more efficient scorer than Turner or Bowden last year because of his solid command of the offense and ability to run fast breaks.

Bowden can’t play the point. He’s a pure two-guard. Turner can, but given the fact that he’s a combo guard, he has a tendency to be too aggressive. That’s the same profile that comes with James as well.

However, one of them needs to be able to step up and man the position. So which one will be able to do it? Also, will both of them be able to step up and man it so at least one of them can get rest at different times throughout the games or in case one of them gets in foul trouble?

If not, then we go back to guys like Jalen Johnson and true freshman Davonte Gaines, whom we mentioned as a potential forward given his size. But both guys are 6’6″ and 6’7″. Victor Bailey, a transfer from the Oregon Ducks, won’t be eligible to go this year.

So Rick Barnes is clearly looking at Turner and James to both be able to handle the duties. Can one of them become the main guy doing it to replace Bone, though? If they can’t, then the offense will have trouble all year. Barnes can adjust his system to a more up-tempo, guard-based offense. But with no true point guard to run it, he will have major issues.