Rick Barnes has reshaped the Tennessee basketball roster for next season and has the Vols in the top 20 in ESPN's way-too-early rankings. The Vols lost almost an entire roster worth of players to graduation, and the transfer portal, but Barnes and the staff have retooled and rebuilt and are ready to contend for another SEC title.
The transfer portal has closed, and Tennessee has solidified its roster for next season. The Vols are looking for one more guard in the portal, but with the portal closed, there's not much more to do before the start of next season.
ESPN has the Vols ranked No. 18 in their 2024-25 way too early rankings, bumping them up two spots from No. 20 and between Creighton at No. 17 and UCLA at No. 19. The Vols are also the fifth team on the list, sitting behind four other SEC teams.
"Dalton Knecht is gone, and with him goes Rick Barnes' best offense in several years," ESPN's Jeff Borzello writes. "But if the more up-tempo, 3-point-heavy offensive system remains in Knoxville, there should be plenty of optimism. Zakai Zeigler is one of the best point guards in the country, and Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack, and Hofstra transfer Darlinstone Dubar are plenty experienced on the perimeter. Barnes also addressed the frontcourt, adding Igor Milicic Jr. (Charlotte) and Felix Okpara (Ohio State)."
Alabama is the highest-ranked SEC team at No. 6, Texas A&M sits at No. 11, Auburn is right behind them at No. 12, and Florida jumps ahead of the Vols at No. 15. The only other SEC team in ESPN's way too-early rankings is Arkansas at No. 25.
ESPN also projected Tennessee's starting lineup. With the transfer portal closed it looks like the Vols will utilize their transfers early in the season. ESPN projects that the top three transfers coming in will be in the starting lineup.
Projected starting lineup
Zakai Zeigler (11.8 PPG)
Jahmai Mashack (4.5 PPG)
Darlinstone Dubar (17.8 PPG at Hofstra)
Igor Milicic Jr. (12.8 PPG at Charlotte)
Felix Okpara (6.6 PPG at Ohio State)
Tennessee basketball is still looking to add one more piece through the transfer portal, but even if they don't, the Vols have rebuilt its roster for next season to bring more efficiency and physicality in the paint to the court.