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Tennessee basketball’s 10 biggest storylines of 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 2: Cheerleaders of the Tennessee Volunteers pregame against the Kentucky Wildcats in a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 2, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 2: Cheerleaders of the Tennessee Volunteers pregame against the Kentucky Wildcats in a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 2, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey/Getty Images) /
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Mar 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward John Fulkerson (10) passes the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Nate Sestina (1) in the second half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward John Fulkerson (10) passes the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Nate Sestina (1) in the second half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

9. John Fulkerson and Rae Burrell turn into unlikely stars

Rennia Davis was expected to be a star on the women’s basketball side, and she lived up to it. Jordan Horston lived up to her freshman hype as well. We already mentioned how Yves Pons lived up to his expectations on the men’s side, and Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner were expected to help the offense shine.

Well, Turner had to end his season at the end of 2019 due to injuries. That meant that Bowden needed more help. Enter John Fulkerson, who had been a Tennessee basketball reserve for three years. As a redshirt junior, Fulkerson had a breakout SEC campaign, averaging a team-leading 13.7 points and just under six rebounds a game.

Heading into February of last year, Fulkerson had never scored 20 points a game. However, in his final 10 games beginning Feb. 4, he crossed the 20-point mark four times, including 27 points in a win at the Kentucky Wildcats. Fulkerson’s play in that game was a headline more than UT beating Kentucky, and as a 6’9″ 215-pound redshirt junior, he earned Second Team All-SEC.

On the Lady Vols side, Rae Burrell was Davis’ backup on the wing for most of the year. However, she proved to be the only other scoring option, averaging 10.5 points a game, and she ended up becoming a starter alongside Davis the final nine games of the year. Davis earned All-SEC and Horston was Freshman All-SEC, but Burrell emerged as a major scoring threat herself.

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