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March Madness: Ranking the top five Tennessee basketball Vols by importance in 2022 NCAA Tournament

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 5, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and his teammates celebrate the last minutes of a victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2022; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and his teammates celebrate the last minutes of a victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Kennedy Chandler (1) takes the ball up court against the Texas A&M in the first half at Amelie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Kennedy Chandler (1) takes the ball up court against the Texas A&M in the first half at Amelie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

player. Guard. Freshman. 4. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Kennedy Chandler. 534

6’0″ 171 pounds

Sticking with the point guards, Kennedy Chandler is probably Tennessee basketball’s best go-to option. The five-star out of Memphis, Tenn., who came out of Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas is a probable one-and-done who has actually thrived in Rick Barnes’ system with his athletic ability and offensive instincts.

Chandler leads the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game, assists in just over four and a half per game and steals in just over two per game. He shoots 37.4 percent from three, making nearly one and a half a game, and when things get close, he becomes the main player Barnes turns to.

Why is he all the way down at No. 4 on this list, then? Well, despite being the Vols’ best player, he is not their most necessary player. This team doesn’t go as he goes, and that’s largely because if he’s off in any way, Zakai Zeigler likely will be available to pick up the slack.

Rocky Top is actually 6-3 this year when Chandler only scores single digits, including quality wins over the LSU Tigers and Arizona Wildcats. Don’t get me wrong, go-to stars are needed in March Madness, and Chandler provides that option, but this team is loaded and balanced enough that it’s not panic-time if he can’t deliver.

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