Tennessee basketball’s five biggest preseason storylines for 2021-2022

2. Who will be the second scoring option in the backcourt?

Keon Johnson was the big loss on the defensive side of the ball in the backcourt. Jaden Springer was the big scoring loss. They were Tennessee basketball’s two five-stars last year. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Kennedy Chandler are the five-stars to replace them this year, but Chandler is a point guard, and Huntley-Hatfield is a post player.

That means the Vols need another pure scoring option in the backcourt alongside Victor Bailey Jr., who averaged just under 11 points off the bench last year and should take on a larger role with Springer gone. Who will be able to help him out?

In Barnes’ system, the backcourt could involve two guards at the two and the three. Again, Auburn transfer forward Justin Powell could fill that void. He is a 6’6″ sharpshooter who averaged 11.7 points a game through 10 games last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Beyond Powell, Santiago Vescovi is likely to move over to the two-guard spot. He is another sharpshooter.

Freshmen Quintin Diboundje Eyobo and Jahmai Maschak, a three-star and four-star respectively, also can play the two or the three. Josiah-Jordan James could add more offense to his game. The point is somebody among these guys needs to step up to become another scoring option.