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Tennessee basketball 2019-2020 preview: Vols frontcourt

By Caleb Calhoun

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: John Fulkerson #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers looses the ball in the second half against the Wright State Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: John Fulkerson #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers looses the ball in the second half against the Wright State Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Rick Barnes has to replace his entire front court for Tennessee basketball’s 2019-2020 season. Here is a preview of the Volunteers at forward and center.

With the end of October drawing near, Tennessee basketball is about to tipoff its season. It has an exhibition game next week to get things going, and Rick barnes has to begin the process of replacing four starters, his three leading scorers, and his three leading rebounders.

But of all the talent he has to replace, it’s no more prevalent in the front court. As the Vols try to build a new identity after a 31-6 season that saw them reach the Sweet Sixteen and spend a few weeks at No. 1, they have no major returning contributors in the postgame.

Kyle Alexander and Grant Williams made it up last year, and both inked NBA contracts this offseason, with Williams being a first-round draft pick. Admiral Schofield, meanwhile, was a wing player who would also play down low when needed, and he was a second-round draft pick.

Meanwhile, one of Tennessee basketball’s contributors in the post off the bench, Derrick Walker, has transferred to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. And DJ Burns, a four-star 6’9″ power forward in last year’s recruiting class who Barnes planned to incorporate in the offense this year after taking a redshirt, is transferring to the Winthrop Eagles.

Add in the fact that UT failed to land Virginia Tech Hokies transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr., who landed with the Florida Gators, and they have a ton of work to do to find more frontcourt production. Is there any good news?

Well, there’s some. As we get set to bring you our preview for the Vols down low, we’ll break down the returning players, the newcomers, the biggest questions facing the team and give a final take. The good news is that this team has added two freshman forwards and a redshirt freshman transfer center.

And believe it or not, they do have some returning talent. So where is that talent coming from? What does this all say about the outlook of the season. Let’s break that down here. This is our preview of the Vols frontcourt for the 2019-2020 Tennessee basketball season.

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