Tennessee basketball: This could be Vols’ fatal flaw, analyst says

Rick Barnes’ Tennessee basketball Volunteers could have one big issue.

With a top five recruiting class that includes two new five-stars, all but one starter back and the addition of two new transfers, Tennessee basketball has a ton of hype behind it for a reason. But that doesn’t mean it’s without a weakness.

John Gasaway of ESPN’s fatal flaw for all top 25 teams listed turnovers as the one thing that could derail the Vols this year. A bunch of new freshmen and the loss of Jordan Bowden in the backcourt could all contribute to that.

However it’s also worth noting that Tennessee basketball’s struggles with turnovers last year came largely due to Santiago Vescovi, a mid-year freshman, taking over the starting job at point guard in December. Here’s a bit of what Gasaway wrote about the situation.

"The Volunteers gave the ball away on 21% of their possessions in SEC play a year ago. That fact alone meant that an offense that was making shots at an average rate nevertheless clocked in as below average in SEC terms. Tennessee just didn’t get enough chances to score, and in fact only Vanderbilt ranked lower in the league in terms of shot volume."

Assuming Vescovi has taken major step entering his sophomore year, this could be nullified. After all, Josiah-Jordan James, a combo guard who also handled point guard duties at times, was also a freshman and was banged up last year.

Before either took over, there was Lamonte Turner. While he was a senior, he had to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery in December and was playing with shoulder issues up until that point. Simply put, UT had issues it point guard last year due to injuries and inexperience, not talent.

Add in Victor Bailey Jr., an Oregon Ducks transfer who redshirted last year and is a combo guard, and the Vols could have a lot more experience and depth at the position than they did last year. Incoming five-stars Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer may not be relied on as much.

Teams coached by Rick Barnes have been prone to being extremely hot and cold, even at their best, and turnovers could make that an issue. Tennessee basketball’s 2018-2019 team could have major dry spells like that. If turnovers do become a problem this year, then Barnes’ vulnerabilities become magnified. As a result, this is a legitimate concern.