Tennessee basketball: Projecting the Vols 2019-2020 two-deep depth chart

Center

1. Uros Plavsic

Redshirt freshman; 7’0″ 240 pounds; Ivanjica, Serbia

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We’re going ahead and taking the leap of faith that Uros Plavsic will be good to go, even if Tennessee basketball’s opening game is now within less than a week. Rick Barnes has just been too confident for a while that he will get the NCAA eligibility waiver to play after transferring from the Arizona State Sun Devils. And getting that will be huge.

Plavsic gives the Vols two legitimate options to replace Kyle Alexander, a 6’11” option and a 7’0″ option. As the seven-footer who weighs 240 pounds, he provides the exact necessary size to help Barnes as he does go smaller this year everywhere else. So he should be in line to immediately start, and he could become a big mismatch in the SEC.

2. Zach Kent

Redshirt sophomore; 6’11″ 235 pounds; Magnolia, Del.

Last year, Zach Kent missed the entire season due to injury. That’s why John Fulkerson is likely to be the backup post player period behind Plavsic and Yves Pons. But Kent’s size at 6’11” 235 pounds makes him the only guy along with Plavsic who can provide a certain level of depth, and that’s enough for us to say he’s the No. 2 true center.

How much he plays is up in the air. If Plavsic by some off-chance can’t go, he will likely see lots of action. But the big thing about Kent’s return is that he gives Barnes more options in the post. After only playing two games in 2017-2018 before the injury, this is his chance to take a major leap coming off of that injury. He will be in the 10-man rotation.