Tennessee basketball 2019-2020 preview: Vols frontcourt
Biggest questions
1. Will Uros Plavsic receive the NCAA eligibility waiver?
As we said, this is everything. Tennessee basketball will have two options among true centers if Uros Plavsic gets the eligibility waiver, as it will come down to him at 7’0″ 240 pounds and Zach Kent at 6’11” 235 pounds.
But with Kent coming back from injury, the Vols need Plavsic. Rick Barnes has been saying he expects him to get the waiver. And doing that at least gives him two true post guys to work with. Otherwise, UT could have a major issue on its hands.
2. Who has developed more between John Fulkerson and Yves Pons?
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Both of them played about the same amount of minutes last year. Since John Fulkerson is 6’9″ and Yves Pons is 6’6″, Rick Barnes will not be able to run them both if they play forward and center. That goes back to why Plavsic is so crucial. Anyway, their development will determine what Barnes does.
If just Pons has developed, he likely goes small this year with Pons at the four. Fulkerson taking a bigger leap allows him to play a true power forward and center, assuming he can turn to Plavsic or Kent. Both of them developing, though, could allow Barnes to play big with Fulkerson at the four and Pons at the three. So their offseason strides mean everything.
3. Could Drew Pember or Olivier Nkamhoua be ready to go early?
Another part of the equation as to whether or not Barnes goes small depends on whether or not one of the two freshmen, Drew Pember or Olivier Nkamhoua, is able to go. Should that be the case, then Barnes can at least run a three to four-man rotation in the post.
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That would be a huge plus. Not only would it build up Tennessee basketball’s depth this year, but it would also better prepare them for the future. So pay attention to how Barnes uses each of them early on in the season.