With the regular season behind us, it's not only tournament time, but it's also award season. Despite the Tennessee Vols taking a step back this year from where they have been, they still received plenty of recognition in the awards.
The Tennessee Vols were well represented when it comes to the SEC Men's basketball awards. This year, three different Tennessee Vols were highlighted for their superb seasons. Guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie led the way, earning First-Team All-SEC honors after emerging as one of the conference’s most consistent scorers, averaging 18 points a game. Forward and freshman standout Nate Ament was named to the Second Team while also securing a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Senior center Felix Okpara, who has been a force down low all season, made it to the SEC All-Defensive Team. He is averaging 1.4 blocks per game and is a tremendous defensive rebounder and shot-contester. It's no surprise that Okpara was highlighted with this honor.
Tenenssee can build on this in March
What this really means is that Tennessee still has a very talented roster, and when they can put it all together for 40 minutes, this Vols team can be dangerous during March Madness. There's a reason it's called madness; it's not supposed to be chalk. Anything can happen in a one-and-done format, and Tennessee does have the recipe to succeed. They have a veteran guard leading the way, a future NBA lottery pick, and a culture built on defense and rebounding.
Does this guarantee success? No, but if Rick Barnes can piece it all together, the second weekend is very much in play and maybe even more. It's not uncommon for mediocre teams to get hot and make a deep run. In recent years, St. Peter's, NC State, Loyola Chicago, and Oregon State have all gone far despite having okay seasons.
Realistically, Tennessee still has plenty to clean up before reaching that point, and its success in March will likely depend heavily on matchups. But despite the areas that need improvement, this team clearly has the talent and potential to make a deep run when the NCAA Tournament begins.