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Tennessee basketball 2021-2022 preview: Frontcourt

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee’s Handje Tamba (32) looks to pass during a Tennessee men’s basketball practice in Pratt Pavilion, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021.Basketball0929 0421
Tennessee’s Handje Tamba (32) looks to pass during a Tennessee men’s basketball practice in Pratt Pavilion, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021.Basketball0929 0421 /
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Dec 15, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Uros Plavsic (33) shoots a free throw against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Uros Plavsic (33) shoots a free throw against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Returning backups

Olivier Nkamhoua

  • 6’8″ 232 pounds
  • Junior
  • Helsinki, Finland

Surprisingly, Olivier Nkamhoua took a step back last year. Rick Barnes cut his minutes from over 11 a game to just over seven. Meanwhile, he averaged 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 steals and blocks. That steals number did slightly go up, but that was it.

However, this is his third year in the system, and post players usually break out as juniors under Barnes, so this is his chance to become a rotational player or even a starter at the four. If anybody emerges surprisingly this year, Nkamhoua will be that guy.

Uros Plavsic

  • 7’0″ 251 pounds
  • Redshirt junior
  • Ivanjica, Serbia

Getting the NCAA eligibility waiver for Uros Plavsic back in 2019-2020 hasn’t done much for Tennessee basketball. Like Nkamhoua, his production dropped last year thanks to reduced minutes, as he went from over seven to under four and a half.

For the year, Plavsic averaged 1.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.2 blocks. This year, he’ll likely come off the bench again, but he can be a major size advantage if he continues to refine his game. You can’t teach seven feet, and he’s now had two years to develop in Barnes’ system as well.

Brock Jancek

  • 6’8″ 228 pounds
  • Senior
  • Knoxville, Tenn.

The veteran walk-on in the program, Brock Jancek has yet to score any points for the Vols. He has appeared in 12 games through three years but only appeared in one game last year. Obviously, he won’t see much action, but he’s another guy on the roster.

Cole Morris

  • 6’9″ 211 pounds
  • Sophomore
  • Marietta, Ga.

Another walk-on, Cole Morris saw no action on the court last year. He likely will at least see some minutes this year, even if it’s at the end of games. Again, like Jancek, he is another body to provide depth at this position.

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