Tennessee hit the absolute jackpot in the portal. They have the No. 1 class according to ESPN, but one of the biggest questions for Rick Barnes’ revamped squad is defense. The Vols added a ton of scoring, but can they get it done on the defensive end to break the slump and make the Final Four?
Nate Ament continues rising as the 2026 NBA Draft green room reveals its clear top group
In light of this, Vols players are already beginning to shift their mindset toward next season and what they need to do.
Former Notre Dame wing Jalen Haralson went into what Barnes told him to work on in the offseason, and he said, "I think the defensive end, like, I left a lot of food on the table on that end. But I was a high usage player last year. I had 33% usage rate. And obviously it won’t be that this year. That was kind of crazy. But like, being a two-way player and really selling out on the defensive end."
Jalen Haralson on things Rick Barnes has emphasized for him this offseason: "I think the defensive end, like, I left a lot of food on the table on that end. But I was a high usage player last year. I had 33% usage rate. And obviously it won’t be that this year. That was kind of…
— Ryan Schumpert (@ryanschumpert00) June 9, 2026
How the defense can be a strength for the Vols next year
Haralson makes a great point about his game, and it can apply to pretty much everyone on this roster. He was the No. 1 option at Notre Dame, and his focus had to be on putting the ball in the basket. Juke Harris dealt with the same situation at Wake Forest, and Dai Dai Ames did as well at Cal. However, with those three on the roster, along with Tyler Lundblade and Terrence Hill, the Vols have more than enough scoring, so no one has to wear themselves out on offense. That should allow everyone to give a solid 200-foot effort and focus more on defense.
We saw it plenty of times last year where Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who is an elite defender, had to reduce his effort on that end in order for Tennessee to stay afloat on offense, especially since Rick Barnes didn’t think that Ethan Burg off the bench was reliable enough to trust in big moments.
With a coach and staff like Barnes, they are always one step ahead schematically on defense. The Vols have consistently been a top-10 defensive team in the nation under Barnes, and while they could slip slightly, it’s doubtful that this team will be a liability defensively with a staff like this. Their track record proves otherwise. Even with missing pieces at times last year, the defense never slipped, even when elite defenders like Felix Okapra were out. The system held up.
Perhaps what stands out the most is that Tennessee already has the interior taken care of; it’s really the perimeter that has fans worried. Miles Rubin was one of the best shot-blockers in the country at Loyola last year, averaging 2.3 blocks per game and ranking in the 97th percentile in shot-blocking. Behind him, the Vols added Braedan Lue from Kennesaw State, who ranked in the 91st percentile in block rate. Add Christian Fermin and DeWayne Brown II, who are both solid defenders, and the paint is well covered.
The perimeter could have its moments, but with a staff that has a track record of elite defense and a roster full of stars, Tennessee can overcome that obstacle.
Add us as a preferred source on Google