11112020 The Daily Beacon

VOLUME 139 ISSUE 12

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2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Beacon Wednesday, November 11, 2020 The 2020 October 2020 The Daily Daily Beacon Beacon ••• Wednesday, Wednesday,November October14, 7,4, 2020

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LETTERS FROM THE CO-SPORTS EDITORS

Vols poised to compete for another SEC championship RYAN SCHUMPERT Co-Sports Editor

Tennessee’s basketball program isn’t known for competing for SEC Championships. Head Coach Rick Barnes is doing his best to change that narrative as he’s revamped the Vols program since taking over before the 2015-16 season.

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With continued development combined now with top level recruiting, Barnes’ program should once again be competing for a SEC title.

RYAN SCHUMPERT CO-SPORTS EDITOR

Barnes inherited a massive rebuilding job and it showed with Tennessee going 31-35 in Barnes’ first two seasons. Nationally, much of the same was expected in Barnes’ third season with the

media predicting UT to finish 13th in the SEC. Instead, Tennessee became a media darling, winning 26 games and a share of the SEC title, the program’s first since 2008, doing it all without a top 100 recruit on the roster.

Barnes program would elevate again in 201819, spending the whole season in the top 10, including five weeks as the nation’s No. 1 team.

Despite winning two more SEC games, the Vols couldn’t defend their title, tying for second and earning a two seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee took an expected step back a season ago after losing four starters from the 2019 team including program changers Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams. The Vols finished eighth in the SEC in a bridge season and were likely to miss the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled.

Thanks to losing just one starter and an influx of talent with the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class according to 247Sports, Tennessee is poised to once again compete for the top spot in the SEC. Anchoring the front court are returnees Yves Pons, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and John Fulkerson, a Second Team All-SEC selection a year ago.

Fulkerson will be one of the team’s go to scorers after averaging 15.1 points per game in SEC play as one of the league’s most efficient scorers. Fulkerson took his game to another level in the season’s last month, averaging 18.1 points per game in the stretch.

Tennessee’s backcourt was a weakness a season ago, but talented freshmen are hoping to

change that in 2020-21.

Highlighting Tennessee’s signing class was backcourt, a duo of five stars in Jaden Springer (No. 16 player) and Keon Johnson (No. 19 player).

Expect the duo to compete for starting spots and to play significant minutes either way. Johnson in particular has people around the program excited with his work ethic and athleticism.

Combining the freshmen guards with sophomores Santiago Vescovi and Josiah Jordan James should make for a deeper and better backcourt this season.

Expectations are high for this team with players openly saying that their goal is a national championship, with a conference title in the process. Most national pundits have pegged the Vols as a top 15 team and one of the favorites in the SEC. In the Vols way is an always talented Kentucky team, despite the loss of its top six scorers from a season ago. The Wildcats will rebuild with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and graduate transfers. LSU has the talent to win another SEC Championship led by junior guard Javonte Smart and sophomore forward Trendon Watford.

Rick Barnes has turned around a Tennessee program that was in the dumpster when he took over five years ago. With high level development he gave the Vols their first SEC title in a decade and their second ever No. 1 ranking.

With continued development combined now with top level recruiting, Barnes’ program should once again be competing for a SEC title.

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Football still king, SEC is a basketball conference, too RYAN CREWS Co-Sports Editor

It Just Means More. That what the SEC slogan claims and it many ways it is true. The phrase earned some scorn from other parts of the country, and the conference tried to take on a new slogan but the idea resonated with many throughout the footprint.

For many, it refers to the conference’s football teams and their success and passion. And that’s true. I will never debate the fact that football is king, and Saturday in the South will be special as long as the game continues to be played. Football is engrained in the fabric of the landscape and basketball can not change that.

But at the same time, the SEC has quietly become a major player in the national basketball landscape with an influx of great coaches and rising teams. Kentucky has long been a perennial contender but now there many teams in the conference demanding to be taken novice of by the entire country.

Joining the Wildcats are both Auburn and Ten-

nessee. The Tigers are two seasons removed from a Final Four appearance, and the Vols came close to joining them there as well. Elsewhere LSU has established themselves as a power and Florida has actual National Championships to boast. Even Missouri looks to be on the rise.

As a whole, the SEC continues be among those with the most bids to the Big Dance. In both 2018 and 2019, they had the second most bids always within one of the ACC, the supposed gold standard when it comes to college basketball.

On the women’s side it’s much the same. The country’s foremost power is situation in the South Carolina and some the Gamecock biggest dangers to their dominance are Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Kentucky and Arkansas have similarly strong teams that will likely contend for the conference crown. Not to be forgotten, the Lady Vols look to be on a positive trajectory with second-year head coach Kellie Harper looking to build upon the progress she made in her first season in Knoxville.

Again, when looking at NCAA bids in 2018 and 2019, the SEC finished second both years with one team less than the mighty ACC. While for both the men and women, the ACC is

still the top league when it comes to college basketball, but in the last couple years, the SEC has been gaining ground and appears to be nipping at the heels of their rival league on the Atlantic coast.

I want to make it clear that I’m not claiming football is now second in the SEC. I’m simply saying that the SEC should be considered a legitimate basketball conference will arguably as one of the top two or three conference in college basketball when this season tips off on Rocky Top and the other 13 campuses.

But at the same time, the SEC has quietly become a major player in the national basketball landscape ...

RYAN CREWS CO-SPORTS EDITOR

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 11, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

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Rising key players present new options, versatility at point guard RYAN SCHUMPERT Sports Editor

Point guard was a position of transition for Tennessee during the 2019-20 basketball season. The Vols seemed set there heading into the season with redshirt senior Lamonte Turner poised to lead the offense.

Things were thrown off tilt when Turner decided to have season ending shoulder surgery, as his shooting struggled and shoulder remained aggravated from an injury the year before. Tennessee was without reliable options without Turner, with Josiah Jordan James being the only other point guard on the roster.

Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi (25) dribbling past Arkansas’ Desi Sills (3) at ThompsonBoling Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020.

File / The Daily Beacon James and Tennessee looked horrible in their first game without Turner, falling 6848 to Wisconsin.

Tennessee’s stabilizer was only a week away as Santiago Vescovi enrolled at Tennessee for the winter semester. Vescovi started his first game just a week after arriving in Knoxville from Uruguay, the day of the Wisconsin loss, and started the rest of the season.

Vescovi impressed as a freshman averaging 10.7 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds a game. Vescovi wasn’t without his flaws, averaging 3.5 turnovers a game and struggling on defense with the speed and athleticism of the American game.

Vescovi feels more confident entering 2020-21 with a full off season of speed and

conditioning work under his belt.

“I feel way more comfortable right now; as I mentioned, we are starting to know more of the offense and what Coach Rick Barnes wants from us,” Vescovi said. “That is really good for me and all the team, because we are on the same page, and I feel really good about the offense we are running right now.”

One thing Vescovi will certainly have this season that he didn’t last is guys around him that can also handle the ball and create offense. That should be a weight off his back after averaging over 30 minutes a game a season ago.

For starters, James should be more comfortable handling the ball in his sophomore season. James missed significant practice time and multiple games due to injury last season. The former five star is at full strength now and has touted yoga for improving his flexibility this offseason.

It’s the three guys that didn’t play last year that is exciting to Barnes, especially with the depth that they could provide.

“We think we’ve got four or five guys that can play there and do the things that we want done, especially in transition,” Barnes said. “We feel good about that spot because Santi (Vescovi) is still learning a lot of what he wasn’t able to learn a year ago.

Keon (Johnson) and Jaden (Springer) have proven that they are more than capable of learning it and playing it. Josiah (-Jordan James) understands it and VJ Bailey has had to play it just because of the contact tracing.

He’s probably put more time in there than he has anywhere else on the court, because of our situation. We’re doing some different things with our post guys that we like to implement in transition. We think it will not only help those guards but will help us as a team.”

The newcomers are headlined by the incoming five star freshmen and top 20 recruits Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer.

Both Springer and Johnson were rated as shooting guards, but Barnes has been pleased with their potential at point guard.

Springer is a highly skilled offensive player who played point guard for IMG Academy in high school. Springer has experience facilitating and has a speed and athleticism that Vescovi and James can’t match.

Johnson is likely to be used more as an emergency point guard and a consistent reliable ball handler from the wing. The Tennessee native’s athleticism has impressed his teammates so far.

While fans haven’t seen him on the floor, Victor Bailey Jr. isn’t new to the team after transferring from Oregon where he averaged 7.4 points per game and sitting our last season. Bailey used last season as a time to familiarize himself with head coach Rick Barnes’, who is infamously hard on his ex-

pectations for point guards.

“Coach is definitely tough but he just wants to get the best out of you,” Bailey said.

“I’ve heard (Jordan) Bone say it plenty of times, he’s tough but he just wants the best out of you. He’s going to get it, he is great at pulling the best out of you when he needs it.

Sitting out really helped me get it under my belt and learn what he wants and when he wants you to put your foot on the gas and take it off. Facilitate and not facilitate and do stuff like that.”

The depth at point guard gives Barnes options and the Vols’ head man has said that the best motivation is the bench. We could see Barnes handle his point guards like he did in 2017-18 when James Daniels, Bone and Turner all split playing time and Barnes rode the hot hand- although, besides Turner, those three were less equipped to play off the ball than perhaps any of the Tennessee guards on this roster The other benefit will be with the instability of COVID-19 and contact tracing.

Barnes has indicated that contact tracing has slowed the Vols’ preseason work down and a player isolating during the season could mean players missing four games in a row.

“Yes, absolutely, because of what could happen we know how important that position on the court is,” Barnes said. “That’s

where it’s been good to have a guy like John Fulkerson around, he understands the point position, not that he would actually play the point, but he can orchestrate a lot from where he is. … That’s another area that we want to be prepared for, but the fact is we do have more depth at that spot; it’s been a long time since we’ve had four or five guys that can play that spot.”

Who will start at point guard for Tennessee when they take the floor on Nov. 25 is unclear, but the Vols have more options than at any time of Barnes’ tenure.

Tennessee’s Victor Bailey Jr. (12) dribbles the ball during Tennessee’s basketball practice on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 at Pratt Pavilion.

File / The Daily Beacon

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, 2020 Wednesday,November October 7,11, 2020

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Flexibility is the key for Lady Vols basketball in COVID-19 season JOSH LANE Contributor

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unusual situation for the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. With new health and safety regulations in place, nothing looks quite the same.

Even with all the challenges a season in a pandemic brings, Head Coach Kellie Harper and her team are excited to play some basketball.

The main concern with playing a college basketball season in a pandemic is the players’ health. And to this point, the Lady Vols have remained very healthy.

Harper noted that the team has had just a couple of isolated quarantine cases but no positive tests and no opt-outs. The team staff is taking every precaution to protect the players’ health, from restricting locker room access to new gym setups to masks for all coaching personnel.

“I think our medical staff does a great job of informing us on protocols and procedures,” Harper said. “Our players are well-versed, they completely understand what we’re doing. We’re taking their safety and making it a priority.”

A large part of the responsibility falls on the players. Even with the safety measures put into place, one bad decision can erase all the progress

and halt the season.

Another factor in the mix is that a team can lose focus when they do not know what could happen on a week to week basis. The Lady Vols could get shut down at any moment over one positive test, and their schedule has not even been fully announced, just four games have been scheduled thus far.

Harper was adamant that, in spite of the complications, the team is working hard and preparing the way they should.

“I think the team has done a terrific job being flexible,” Harper said. “That’s the biggest thing for us. We don’t know what’s going to happen next week. They’ve been really good working in the unknown.”

Team practices are different this year as well.

The SEC announced that official team practices would begin on Oct. 14 and each team would have a 42-day window to conduct no more than 30 practices.

Specifically for Tennessee, the amount of time per week the team can practice has been altered. Harper said that normally the Lady Vols would practice 20 hours per week, but this season it has been cut to 12 hours.

This presents yet another challenge for the less experienced college players, who are not used to a shorter practice period, but Harper believes her more experienced players will have no trouble adjusting.

“The days per week is very similar to where we would be if this was a normal season,” Harper said. “So I think the format looks different for players who are seasoned college players and understand kind of what that calendar looks like.”

All of these challenges are combined with the fact that the offseason was totally different. Conditioning, work outs and team meetings were limited, and Harper and her recruiting team had to operate online since no in-person events were allowed.

Freshman guard/forward Marta Suárez detailed her unusual recruitment experience in the pandemic.

“My recruiting process was interesting because I didn’t get to visit or anything with any school,” Suarez said. “I was looking for a school with good basketball and good studies. Since the first Zoom call I had with the coaches here, they gave me a family and team feeling that I thought was right for me. I still believe that was the correct choice.”

Harper and her team took advantage of the unusual offseason to build team chemistry, even when they could not do it in person.

“We had book clubs, we had diversity training, we had leadership meetings,” Harper said.

“We tried to be very intentional about staying engaged with our team, even when it was not on the court. And we tried to take advantage of

that time and take advantage of those meetings because that was a really great opportunity for growth for our team.”

Needless to say, the coronavirus added plenty of extra obstacles for the Lady Vols, but Harper remains confident in her team’s ability to cope in the unknown.

“I think the challenges have been very widespread,” Harper said. “The challenges of just throwing their schedule off, not being able to travel home as frequently as they normally do.

I’ve been proud of them. I think they’ve done a good job thus far.”

Coach Kellie Harper during a game against Ole Miss on Feb. 27, 2020 in ThompsonBoling Arena. File / The Daily Beacon

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Everything to know about the 2020-21 Lady Vols BARRETT WALKER Staff Writer The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team had its first official practice of the 2020-21 season last month.

“We’re excited,” head coach Kellie Harper said before the official start of practice.

“We’re excited about getting to play basketball and this upcoming season. I understand we still have to be flexible and we have to be able to pivot at any moment, but we’ve had good practices. We’ve had a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, and our players have been positive throughout this time. They seem pretty eager to take the court against an opponent. So, I’ve been thrilled. I love the way that this team is shaping up, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Lou Brown looking to find an open teammmate during the game against Ole Miss on Feb. 27, 2020 in Thompson-Boling Arena. File/ The Daily Beacon 2019-20 Season In her first year as the Lady Vols’ head coach, Harper led her team to a 21-10 overall record and a 10-6 SEC record.

Tennessee was tested early in the season. In just the third game of the season, the Lady Vols faced off against then, No. 15 Notre Dame. The young Tennessee team defeated the 2018 NCAA Tournament Champions, 74-63. The Lady Vols started the season 7-0, before falling to Texas, 60-66. Tennessee would suffer its second loss of the season, 5178, at the hands of then No. 1 Stanford, before entering SEC play.

The Lady Vols entered SEC play as the No. 22 team in the nation. They took care of business in their first conference matchup, defeating Mizzou, 77-66. Next up, they faced a tough Kentucky team that ranked No. 13 in the country. Tennessee would give them a battle but ultimately fell by just four points.

The Lady Vols found their groove again, as they won four straight, before falling to then, No. 3 UCONN in the Basketball Hall of Fame Revival Series.

After a brief stint with success, Tennessee hit a rough patch as they lost its first five games in February, including a loss to then,

No. 1 South Carolina. The Lady Vols would eventually rebound and take the final three games of the season.

Tennessee earned a spot in the SEC Tournament. They defeated Missouri before falling to Kentucky in the third round. That would be their final game as COVID-19 canceled the NCAA Tournament.

Old and new players Tennessee will bring back eight of its players from the 2019-20 roster, including four starters.

Rennia Davis, Jordan Horston, Rae Burrell and Tamari Key are all expected to be key contributors to the team’s success in this upcoming season. The Lady Vols return five of their top six scorers and rebounders from the previous season. Specifically, Harper will retain players who contributed 80.8 percent of the team’s scoring, 76.4 percent of the rebounding, 78.6 percent of the blocks, 71.0 percent of the steals, and 64.8 percent of the assists.

Kasiyahna Kushkituah, Jessie Rennie, Jaiden McCoy and Emily Saunders will also return to Rocky Top for the upcoming season.

Kushkituah will look to be the backup center for Tennessee as she has made 12 starts in her career and finished last season with 5.4 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game in 31 games played. Rennie should continue to provide some spark off the bench as she shot 46 percent from three last season for the Lady Vols. McCoy and Saunders will hope to break out of their depth role and they average just 11.3 and 8.2 minutes, respectively.

I love our freshmen this year, and I honestly wish I came in with as much confidence my freshman year because I think I would be a lot further along.

RENNIA DAVIS LADY VOLS #0

The new faces for Tennessee include; Jordan Walker, Keyen Green, Destiny Salary, Tess Darby and Marta Suárez.

“I love our freshmen this year, and I honestly wish I came in with as much confidence my freshman year because I think I would be a lot further along,” Davis said. “The freshmen this year are willing to talk but also willing to learn. They have great personalities, great presence, the vibes, and the energy, and I believe you don’t come across groups like that often, so I am excited for the freshman and what they will bring to the team and they are all going to contribute in some way as well.”

Walker is an All-MAC graduate transfer point guard from Western Michigan. Last season, she finished with a line of 16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

Green is a first-team All-ASUN graduate transfer forward/center from Liberty. During the 2019-20 campaign, she recorded 13.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 59 percent from the field.

Salary, Darby and Suárez are all four-star prospects. They will bring length and versatility to the guard and wing positions for Tennessee.

2020-21 Season Currently, UT has not released its full schedule for the 2020-21 season. According to the NCAA, games will start as early as Nov. 25, with SEC play starting on Dec. 31. The only game on Tennessee’s schedule is currently UCONN. The two teams will play on Jan. 21 for the Hall of Fame Revival Series.

However, even with the schedule still being finalized, expect this Lady Vols team to be at the top of the polls.

wutk

Wednesday,November 11, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

“THE 7”

1 BEABADOOBEE

2 GUIDED BY VOICES

3

MAJOR LAZER (ft. ZIGGY)

4 SYLVAN ESSO

5 The Lady Vols huddle up after winning the game against Alabama on Monday, Jan.20, 2020 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

File / The Daily Beacon

Tennessee is bringing back most of its players from last season. The team’s chemistry should be rock solid, even with the modified offseason. The Lady Vols also bring experience with this team. One worry from last year is that there were too many fresh faces, but even with eight of their 13 players being freshman and sophomores, they have all played college ball except for three of them, (Salary, Darby, Suárez).

The Lady Vols also features two nationally recognized players. Davis earned a spot on first-team All-SEC, while Horston joined the SEC All-Freshman team. Newcomer, Green, was also named No. 15 on ESPN’s “Newcomer Impact Rankings.”

Despite the uncertainty about how this season will go down. One thing is for sure, this Lady Vols team will be fun to watch.

PORTUGAL THE MAN (ft. WEIRD AL YANKOVIC)

6 SLOW PULP

7 JORJA SMITH

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November 11,2020 2020 66 The TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon• •Wednesday, Wednesday, October 7,

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Fulkerson, Pons pairing offers stability, leadership for young players RYAN CREWS Co-Sports Editor

In a time where teams usually only go as far as their guards, the duo of two forwards in John Fulkerson and Yves Pons offer a unique pairing to lead the Tennessee basketball program. Fulkerson and Pons will once again spearhead the Vols as they both return for their senior season.

Two years ago, the pair came off the bench nearly every game as they were stuck behind a group of starters filled with NBA talent. Both Fulkerson and Pons performed decently on the court, but neither really stood out to the casual viewer.

That changed last year, when they were called to fill in the shoes of their departing teammates.

Fulkerson and Pons were two of the only three Tennessee players who started every game, with the third being then-senior Jordan Bowden.

Last season, the Vols were plagued by instability in the roster, especially at the guard positions. However, Fulkerson and Pons provided reliable production on both ends of the court throughout the season, averaging over 30 minutes a game with over five rebounds and 10 points a game.

Fulkerson had a slightly better year, averaging 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. His breakout performance surprised many, including most opposing coaches as evidenced by their postgame comments each week. Fulkerson’s effort resulted in him being named to the

Yves Pons,#35, and John Fulkerson, #10, celebrate after UT scored two points on Murray State on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

File / The Daily Beacon All-SEC second team as decided by the league’s coaches.

“That was my first recruiting call that day,” Vols Head Coach Rick Barnes said. “I got over here, and I said, ‘man you’re gonna be a lifer.’

I’ve said it before; I would have loved to have a guy like Kevin Durant forever, and I will say the same thing about (Fulkerson).”

Pons also had a solid year, averaging 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He had an impressive 73 blocks, with at least one block in each game. Pons’ performance earned him a spot on the coaches’ SEC All-Defense team for

last season.

“Is (Pons) a difference maker?” Barnes said.

“Absolutely. He’s improved. He has. I think this year is going to give him a chance to walk into the NBA from the front door. I believe it. The growth he’s made and will continue to make because he works. He’s got a chance to really be in that league for a long time.”

This season comes during a time of uncertainty of how things will play out, and due to their experiences last year, the Vols might have a bit of advantage when it comes to dealing with that uncertainty. Coming into the fold this year

is a group of talented young players and senior transfer, as well as Santiago Vescovi getting his first full season on campus. Just like Fulkerson and Pons were the rocks of stability for Tennessee last year, the natives of Kingston, Tennessee and Fuveau, France will be huge for providing stability and leadership.

“The guys look up to (Fulkerson) and (Pons),” Barnes said. “They aren’t the ra-ra types of guys which is fine by me, I don’t want anything to be funny about anybody. Those guys are very authentic in the way they lead, and you can lead a lot of different ways, and they lead by the way they walk and the way they talk and the way they go about their business every single day. I do think we’ll have leadership, I do. Will it be a different kind? Yeah, I think every year there’s different ways and different kinds of leadership. I’m not concerned there right now because I know this, if we tell those guys we want something done, they get it done. If we walk out of practice today and told John Fulkerson and Yves Pons ‘this is what we wanna see done,’ they would get it done.”

And for Tennessee, the pandemic provides an opportunity for these two to extend their careers. Because of the NCAA granting free eligibility for athletes this year, Pons and Fulkerson could return again next year.

“Those guys will have to explore,” Barnes said. “At the end of the year where they might be in terms of their future, but I don’t think it’s going to hurt anybody, there’s not a guy on this team who wouldn’t benefit by being in our program another year.”

Volunteer basketball team has the potential to be elite defensively RYAN SCHUMPERT Co-Sports Editor

In 2018, when Rick Barnes’ Tennessee program reintroduced itself to college basketball with a SEC Championship and three seed in the NCAA Tournament, it was the team’s hard nose, defense-first mentality that stood out.

That season, Tennessee ranked first in the league, both in points per game against and defensive net rating.

Look at the 2020-21 Vols and you’ll see some similarities to that team, starting with its depth and defensive mentality.

“I think we have a chance to be a terrific defensive team when we get everybody to buy into it,” Barnes said. “I think we’re going to have the ability to do a lot of different things defensively. Some things that we haven’t done in the past.”

Tennessee’s defense was solid a season ago. The Vols gave up the least amount of points of any team in the SEC, though much of that was due to Tennessee’s slow style of play.

UT ranked fourth in net defensive rating.

The Vols frontcourt was the rock of its defense last season with a solid defender in John Fulkerson and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in Yves Pons. Pons was terrific defending the paint for the Vols as his 73 blocks led the SEC and tied the Tennessee single season record.

“Great,” junior guard Victor Bailey Jr. said of the Vols’ defensive potential. “The guards in the backcourt can guard. We have the Defensive Player of the Year, so that does it there.

(John Fulkerson) can guard. Fulky is smart.

The freshmen can guard. I can guard. Everyone can guard. So, I think defensively we’re going to be a really good team.”

Where Tennessee struggled defensively last year was in the backcourt. Senior Jordan Bowden was the Vols only player that could consistently guard opponent’s point guards and quick twitch guards.

Josiah Jordan James showed promise as a defensive player as a freshman but struggled with quicker guards while Santiago Vescovi was a liability defensively. This, combined with an overall lack of depth, led to Tennessee struggling to stop dribble drive penetration a season ago.

There’s significant reason for optimism though, the Vols added three guards to its backcourt in transfer Victory Bailey Jr. and freshmen Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson.

All three should provide athletic upgrades to what Tennessee had in its backcourt last season.

Combine that with a year of conditioning and weight training for James and Vescovi and you see why Barnes is comfortable with what his backcourt can do defensively this season.

“We think that we’ve got a chance to guard the ball better than we have in the past,” Barnes said. “We have some guys that really good on-ball defenders. … Defensively, we think that we have a chance to be a really good defensive team. We have to continue to get there obviously, but we do think that this is one of the better teams that we’ve had since we’ve been here.”

Johnson in particular, could be a huge piece for Tennessee defensively. The Bell Buckle, Tennessee native earned five-stars in large part to what he showed he could do defensively on the recruiting trail. His teammates have raved about his ‘freak’ athleticism and defensive prowess this fall.

All the pieces are there for Tennessee to be elite on defense and provoke memories of the Vols’ 2018 SEC Championship squad. What remains to be seen is an important aspect, how well the group of talented players can mesh together and play as one on the defensive end.

Grad transfer E.J. Anosike isn’t worried though, crediting the team top-to-bottom on its commitment to do things right on the defensive end.

“I feel like this is a really athletic team,” Anosike said. “We can do a lot of different things, we can switch, we can do a lot of different defensive schemes and everyone can guard everyone. It’s really unique. Everyone has different skill sets and I feel like this is a great team to be a part of. We have a lot of depth, the freshmen are doing good, they work hard and are coming along great. The upperclassmen and all of the returning guys have already bought into the culture.”

Tennessee has the league’s best rim protector and depth to pair with talented, defensive minded freshmen guards. The combination could be lethal enough to get Tennessee another conference championship.

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday, November 11, 2020 TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon Wednesday, October 14, 2020 • The

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Green, Walker highlight Lady Vol basketball 2020-21 newcomers JOSH LANE Contributor

Harper said of the freshman.

Destiny Salary

The Lady Vols basketball team enters the 2020-21 season with high expectations. Contributing to the hype surrounding Tennessee are five newcomers: three freshmen and two graduate transfers.

Let’s break down each player and their potential role in the upcoming season.

Marta Suárez The freshman guard/forward Suárez was a four-star international prospect from Oviedo, Spain. She represented her home country in the 2018 FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship in Lithuania, playing seven games and averaging 16.9 minutes, 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field.

In a recent media availability, Suárez addressed some differences between basketball in Europe versus in the U.S., mainly the physicality of the game, but she was confident in her abilities to make the transition.

“There are some differences, but it’s not as much as I thought,” Suárez said. “The game here focuses way more on one-on-one players, while in Europe it focuses more on plays with screens, pick and rolls, et cetera. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball, and every team has its own different plays and different motion, so it’s not that big of a difference with that.”

Just making that transition to being back on the court, that was one big piece of excitement, as well as now getting into the season and being able to see it and feel how close it is.

JORDAN WALKER LADY VOLS GUARD

Though she will likely have a limited role off the bench, Suárez does bring some versatility to the Lady Vols, as she can play both the guard and forward positions. This should pair nicely with head coach Kellie Harper’s desire to use many substitutions as an advantage.

“She’s highly skilled, very competitive and very mature, as a person and in her game,”

The freshman guard Salary comes from a winning program in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She was a four-star prospect, and she was one of the top players from her state, earning a spot on the 2019 USA TODAY Arkansas SecondTeam.

Harper described Salary as a player with a lot of energy and a big personality- important traits for a freshman competing for a job.

Throughout the preseason, the freshman has impressed her coaches with her work ethic and quickness, though she will likely see time primarily off the bench.

“Right now, on the court, she’s doing a really good job handling the ball, she’s doing a good job getting to the basket and knocking down shots, too,” Harper said. “We’ve really liked seeing her development this preseason.”

Jordan Horston, #25, makes an attempted shot at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Tess Darby The freshman guard/forward Darby was another four-star prospect from a winning program in Greenfield, Tennessee. Basketball runs in Darby’s blood, as both her parents played collegiate basketball as well. “(Darby) is an excellent shooter and a really hard worker,” Harper said. “She is one of those players that will ask a lot of questions just because she wants to get it right. She comes from a winning program, and we can feel that from her.”

Darby, with the other freshman, will likely have a role off the bench this season, but Harper has noticed their progression and acknowledged the ways they can help the team.

“I think they all have had good offseasons with us. I love the steps they have taken this summer and this fall,” Harper said. “I think they bring specific strengths to our team. In the recruiting process, I think a lot of times, you target specific needs and areas. I think we’re covering a lot of ground with those three.”

leaders, and she is in the top-10 in Liberty history in many offensive categories.

“She comes in with great maturity, great leadership and unbelievable work ethic on the court,” Harper said. “I think she took four charges in one practice. This is a tough, hardnosed kid that wants the basketball, and if you don’t throw it to her, she’ll just go get the rebound. She’s been really good for us thus far.”

I think that will be my role on this team, just to continue to encourage and lead with my experience lead vocally and lead by example.

KEYEN GREEN LADY VOLS FORWARD/CENTER

Keyen Green The redshirt senior forward/center Green is a graduate transfer from Liberty University.

She racked up accolades last season, a First Team All-ASUN honor and the Lady Flames team MVP to name a few. Green was also recently ranked No. 15 in ESPN.com’s 202021 women’s basketball “Newcomer Impact Rankings.”

Green brings experience to the Lady Vols.

At Liberty, she started 91 of 93 games from 2016 to 2020 and averaged 13.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. She consistently ranked near the top of the Atlantic Sun Conference stat

Green will have an important role this season, both as a player and a leader. She figures to get a large portion of the starts from the center and forward positions, as someone who adds depth to Harper’s roster. And as a senior transfer, she plans to use her experience to teach her team.

“I think that will be my role on this team, just to continue to encourage and lead with my experience - lead vocally and lead by example,” Green said. “I’m just really trying to get everybody going in the same direction and on the same page.”

Jordan Walker The redshirt junior guard Walker is a graduate transfer from Western Michigan University. She missed her entire sophomore campaign for medical reasons, but in the two full seasons she did play, Walker started 54 of 64 games and averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

The transition from the Mid-American Conference to the SEC brought about plenty of challenges for Walker, including the size and strength of guards in the SEC, and the adjustment she had to make from playing shooting guard, a position she took up at WMU, back to point guard.

After a challenging, unusual offseason, Walker’s focus is on preparing for the first game, whenever that may come.

“I’m extremely excited that we’re going to move forward and play this season,” Walker said. “It’s been a long offseason being in quarantine. Just making that transition to being back on the court, that was one big piece of excitement, as well as now getting into the season and being able to see it and feel how close it is.”

Walker also figures to get a large portion of playing time as an experienced guard who adds depth to the point guard position.

Harper said that she has high expectations for the two graduate transfers, Green and Walker, but is expecting contributions from each newcomer to the Lady Vols.

“I’m expecting big things from those two, but to be honest with you, I think all five have a big opportunity to contribute this year.”

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

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Williams seeing benefits of his time

playing for Barnes as he navigates the NBA RYAN CREWS Sports Editor Grant Williams is a two-time SEC player of the year and a Tennessee legend. As he has finished his first year in the NBA, he spoke to the Vols media last week on his rookie season and what he has learned from Coach Rick Barnes.

According to the Charlotte, North Carolina. native, one of the toughest part of the transition to the professional level is the individual-minded focus one must have.

“The toughest part of adapting is being able to be on your own,” Williams said. “I feel like that’s kind of difficult. You don’t have the highs and lows. You have to be more focused on yourself. Coaches are there for you, but you’re also a professional now.

They’re not going to walk with you, handin-hand. Coach Barnes did a good job of keeping guys engaged and prepared. In the NBA, you have to be prepared yourself and have confidence in yourself. That’s something that’s always difficult.”

One of Williams’ strengths this year has been his defense, an area in which he feels Barnes has helped him development greatly.

The toughest part of adapting is being able to be on your own.

GRANT WILLIAMS NBA PLAYER

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“I feel like (Barnes) always used to say I couldn’t guard anybody or ‘guard a soul,’” Williams said. “The next thing you know, I’m labeled as a defender in the NBA. I think that’s the thing that was the funny part to me. He prepared me with the discipline of not only focusing on game plans but being prepared in film. ... I know that was a chuckle moment for me when everybody kept saying how good of a defender I was, how good I was doing and how much I communicate. I look back and say, ‘Dang, Coach Barnes didn’t even want to nominate me for (SEC) defensive team.’”

One of Williams’ offseason playing partners has been Kevin Durant, who, before his NBA career, started for Barnes when he was coach at the other UT for the Texas Longhorns. As a result, the former Vol and former Longhorn have shared stories of each other’s time with their mutual coach.

“I remember the first time I ever met

KD,” Williams said. “He asked me about Coach Barnes. Every time that I was playing defense yesterday and I kept getting stops or I kept being physical with the fives that were there, like Bruno (Fernando) and Clint Capela, they would say, ‘We know you played for coach Barnes.’ They said it jokingly about the physicality and type of play I was playing with. That was the joke about having Coach Barnes as a person that was in both of our lives.”

Another thing different for Williams is being a role player for the Celtics after many years of being a star in college. He shared he has dealt with the change in role.

“You kind of don’t have the same feel, and the shots you may have made in college you’re not making because you don’t have the ball in your hands as much. People don’t really notice that as much, but it’s a very different, contrasting jump. I’m comfortable with it because I move the ball,” Williams said. “I’m still learning how to be comfortable with the ball in my hands off a catch and being able to shoot it then, versus taking your time. That’s something that is definitely an adjustment, but I feel like I’ve gotten better at it as time has gone on.”

He finished with a message for those on his former team on how to deal with the current climate.

“Just attack it day by day with the right mentality,” Williams said. “We’re all going through the same uncertainty. You’re cautious of the security of others. You just have to go out there and compete. … It’s definitely going to be a unique situation that we’re all in, but hopefully we can tell these stories to our children or grandchildren in years and look back saying we persevered through it.”

Grant Williams poses after a three pointer during the SEC Tournament game against Auburn University at the Bridgestone Arena on Sunday March 17, 2019.

File / The Daily Beacon

PUZZLES & GAMES

Wednesday, November 11, 2020 • The Daily Beacon

9

the daily beacon

crossword & sudoku

your morning coffee’s best friend.

Daily Egyptian 9/14 Crossword 13

LOS ANGELES TIMES CROSSWORD • Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

STR8TS No. 514

Medium

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2 1 3 3 2 4 3 5 4 8 6 9 7 8 5 8 9 6 5 7 7 6

1 3 7 3

7

8 3 3

1 7

8

2

© 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

8 9

Across

Previous solution - Easy

4 5

6

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You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

9 8 1 6 4 7 5 5 7 6

7 6 9 8 7 8 7 6 2 3 3 5 4 4 2 1 4 2 3 8 3 2 1 4 5

5 6 9 1 4 2 3

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

SUDOKU No. 514

Very Hard

9 1

Previous solution - Tough

5 8

7 9 8 2 1 5 6 4 3

3 6

3 4 2 9 7 7 1 2 8 6 3 2 5 6 2 7 7 3 7 4 8 The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

6 5 4 9 8 3 7 2 1

1 3 2 7 4 6 5 9 8

4 2 3 1 7 9 8 6 5

8 7 1 5 6 2 4 3 9

5 6 9 8 3 4 2 1 7

2 8 5 4 9 1 3 7 6

9 4 6 3 5 7 1 8 2

3 1 7 6 2 8 9 5 4

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. © 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

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PuzzleJunction.com

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts, Sudoku and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store at www.str8ts.com

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15 1 Scored on serve 14 5 Razor sharpener 17 18 10 Stadium 21 22 20 souvenirs 14 Loud laugh 23 24 25 26 15 “Common Sense” writer 27 28 29 16 Seed covering 34 35 17 Pound of poetry 33 18 Title holder 38 39 40 37 19 Quash 20 Lip-___ 44 45 42 43 21 Pen filler 49 47 48 22 Smallest 23 Hideous 50 51 25 So-so 27 Bashes 52 53 54 55 29 Retaliates 61 62 60 33 Lock site 34 Medical 65 64 breakthrough 36 Hacienda room 68 67 37 Seek a seat Copyright ©2014 PuzzleJunction.com 38 They get the lead out 11 Atlas stat 66 Surefooted goat 41 Prohibit 12 Apricots have 67 Castle defense 42 Flu symptom them 68 Regarding 44 Bullfight cheers 13 Token taker 69 Mailed 45 Puts a stop to 22 Golfer’s concern 47 Ghent locale Down 24 Battering wind 49 Blender button 25 Passengers 50 Table scraps 26 Allege as fact 1 Greek war god 51 Mongrel 27 Assess 2 Snug 52 Related 3 Have coming 28 Invalidate maternally 4 Stoker vampire 30 Clark of 55 Costa del ___, 5 Loot “Comrade X” Spain 6 Lion-colored 31 Gladden 56 State (Fr.) 7 Milieu for 32 ___ souci 60 Lucy’s husband Lemieux 33 Cocktail decapod 61 Run ___ of 34 Quiets 8 Indivisible 63 Speechless 9 Pricing word 35 Employ 64 ___ and sciences 10 Carlsbad 39 Defeat decisively 65 Wilkes-___, Pa. attractions 40 Close

puzzles Wednesday.

NewNew puzzles every every Monday and Thursday.

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Know-it-all Sister of Apollo E.U. member Fryer Grieve Wax-coated cheese Agrippina’s slayer Hammett hound Like some losers Toothpaste holder Solar disk Student’s book Camel hair fabric Groupie

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10 The 11,2020 2020 TheDaily DailyBeacon Beacon• •Wednesday, Wednesday,November October 7,

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Lady Vols’ schedule still in the air as 2020-21 season approaches JOSH LANE Contributor

As the start date for the 2020-21 Lady Vols basketball season approaches, one thing still remains uncertain, who exactly Tennessee will play. Due to the pandemic and the delayed start to the season, the NCAA and the SEC have been slow to schedule and announce games.

In September, the NCAA announced the format for the women’s college basketball season, official team practices began on Oct. 14, and teams have a 42-day window to conduct no more than 30 practices. The season’s official start date is Nov. 25, and the SEC will begin in non-conference play.

At the moment, the Lady Vols have only four scheduled matchups, so let’s break each one down.

Tennessee will face East Tennessee State University at home on Dec. 1. The two schools met in Johnson City last year, and the Lady Vols came away with a 72-68 win, the first of Head Coach Kellie Harper’s tenure at UT. The Lady Vols have won all seven of their previous meetings against the Buccaneers, dating back to 1926.

Tennessee’s second scheduled game is Dec. 13, at Texas, in a UT versus UT matchup. The Lady Vols have faced the Longhorns three times in the last three years, winning the first two meetings but dropping last year’s at home, 60-66.

The Lady Vols will play Jackson State University on Dec. 20 in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee has played Jackson State once before, in the first round of the 1982 NCAA tournament, a game the Lady Vols won 7256.

The last game that Tennessee currently has scheduled is a home matchup against the University of Connecticut in the Hall of Fame Revival Series on Jan. 21. This is a rematch of the historic rivalry between the two schools, calling back to memorable games between the late Pat Summit and Geno Auriemma.

The Lady Vols have a 9-14 record against UCONN and played each other last season for the first time in 13 years. The Huskies won the game 60-45, but Tennessee is looking to bounce back and recapture some of its old glory.

“I’m ready for that game,” sophomore guard Jordan Horston said. “I’m excited for that game. It’s at home, at Tennessee. My family is going to be there. Our fans are go-

ing to be there no matter the number. Even if it’s no fans, I’m just excited to play them and have the opportunity to try and get that win.

This is why we play, it’s for those big games like that, so I’m excited.”

Tennessee will begin SEC play Dec. 31, though the opponent has yet to be announced.

The 2020-21 SEC women’s basketball conference schedule consists of 18 play dates that will fit a 16-game league schedule. The Lady Vols will split SEC play between eight home and eight away matchups.

In all the uncertainty surrounding the schedule, Harper has done a tremendous job to keep the team focused and training hard each day, while team officials finalize the schedule.

“It can be hard to stay focused if it’s not something you want to do, but it is something I am passionate about and enjoy doing, so I think it is important we stay ready,” senior guard/forward Rennia Davis said. “Kellie has done a great job with keeping us with that mindset as well and not letting us get relaxed, and not really being concerned with a specific start date and just knowing we’re playing, so that when it is time to play we are ready and not have to get ready.”

“The scheduling landscape nation wide

has been really difficult, with tournaments cancelling and with conferences adding conference games,” Harper said. “The SEC did not add conference games, but a lot of other conferences did, so they had to drop schools off their schedule. There’s been a lot of moving parts. And this is just the non-conference part. We’re hoping to get that done ASAP.” The rest of the schedule should be announced in the coming days as Nov. 25 draws closer.

Lady Vols teammates celebrate after Emily Saunders, #31, scores against Tennessee State during the game on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

File / The Daily Beacon

Experienced depth returning for the Lady Vols basketball team BARRETT WALKER Staff Writer

Jordan Horston, #25, shooting a floater in the 4th quarter against Ole Miss on Feb. 27, 2020 in Thompson-Boling Arena.

File / The Daily Beacon The NCAA Women’s basketball season is two weeks from its start date. The NCAA has said that the first set of games could be played as soon as Nov. 25, with SEC play scheduled to begin on Dec. 31.

Let’s look into who all is returning for the Lady Vols and how Head Coach Kellie Harper envisions their 2020-21 campaign.

Rennia Davis enters her senior year, easily being the face of the Lady Vols basketball team.

Last season, she averaged 18.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while also

shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 80.2 percent from the charity stripe. Davis gained some national recognition, as she was named to the first-team All-SEC, and an All-American honorable mention recipient from AP, the USBWA and WBCA. “Historically, one of the things that you can look at with Rennia’s performances is you can see how she has improved every year,” Harper said. “I think she had a really good junior campaign, and what we would like to do is build on that. For her to take a really good season last year and even improve on that.”

“She’s finding a little more diversity in her game. She’s gotten better at ball handling, she can really shoot, she can really score, and she’s a great athlete. I’ve been really impressed with her defense this preseason. She’s done a really good job on the ball and off the ball. She’s an excellent rebounder. She can continue to improve in almost all of those areas. We just want her to be Rennia and just find small ways to be better each and every day.”

SEC All-Freshman Jordan Horston is coming off of a year in which she made program history as a freshman. In the 2019-20 season, Horston finished with 143 assists which were good for 4.6 per game, both of these ranked second all-time in Tennessee program history for a freshman. Horston wasn’t just a distributor, she also averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She also ranked first on the Lady Vols in assists (143) and steals (39),

second in blocks (25) and three-pointers made (27), and third in rebounds (170).

Rae Burrell started the season on the bench for Tennessee and quickly became its sixthwomen of the year during those first 22 games.

However, during the final nine matches, she averaged 12.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, which were higher marks than her ending season totals (10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game).

Tamari Key struggled to find consistent minutes in the rotation but showed flashes of her potential. She finished the season with 7.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

Her real value to Tennessee was on defense.

Key finished first in the SEC in blocks (86) and blocks per game (2.8), and even finished right outside the top 10 in the NCAA in both of those categories. Her block total tied Candace Parker for the fifth-most blocks in a season in Tennessee program history.

“I think Tamari is still just really talented,” Harper said. “I think for her, her growth is still just taking that talent to the next level and not just being talented, but outworking someone, or being more aggressive on the court and not letting plays happen to her, her going out and making plays because she’s so capable of doing that.”

Jessie Rennie will look to build off of her role as a bench player a season ago. She finished with 2.7 points per game and also finished as one of Tennessee’s best three-point shooters.

The sophomore made 25 threes last season and

shot 46.3 percent from behind the arc.

Kasiyahna Kushkituah returns as a backup big for the Lady Vols. The senior center has started 12 games in her career and in 31 games last season recorded 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Kushkituah should as serve as a leader as one of three seniors on the team “Leadership is going to be huge for us, as it has been since I have been here,” Davis said. “I just think this year we have more people that will be able to step into that role, but also we have more people that are willing to listen, so I think that is huge too, and our communication has improved since I have been here in my opinion, so I am just really excited this year and where we are going.”

Jaiden McCoy enters the season providing some bench depth. In her first season with Tennessee last year, the redshirt senior scored 2.7 points over 26 games played.

Emily Saunders hopes to break in as a goto big for Tennessee. Last season, she played in just 10 games and finished the season with a line of 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 70.8 percent from the field in 8.2 minutes per game.

The Lady Vols will look to these eight returning players to help them continue the success that they had last season. In her first year as Lady Vols’ head coach, Harper helped to lead her team to a 21-10 overall record and a 10-6 SEC record.

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wednesday,November October 14, Daily Beacon Wednesday, 11,2020 2020• •The The Daily Beacon

11

Talented newcomers fueling optimism for Vols in 2020-21 season JEFFREY RUSSELL Staff Writer

During the 2019-2020 season, Tennessee men’s basketball struggled to replace key players like Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone and Kyle Alexander. The Vols won 17 games before the season was called off due to COVID-19.

Tennessee’s head basketball coach Rick Barnes watches the the Tennessee and LSU basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

File / The Daily Beacon

John Fulkerson and Yves Pons were two bright spots in the season. Fulkerson had a breakout season and was the go-to player for the Vols. He averaged 15 points and six rebounds on the season. Pons progression as one of the best defenders in college basketball continued in 2019-2020 and he also became a threat on the offensive end of the court. Pons averaged 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds while also being a terror on the defensive end with 73 blocks in 31 games.

This season, the Vols success will be predicated on the growth of newcomers and their ability to build chemistry with their teammates.

One player that will be important in bridging the gap and helping to build chemistry is senior graduate transfer E.J. Anosike. Anosike spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Sacred Heart University where he was best known as one of the best rebounders in college basketball, averaging 11.6 rebounds in his junior season. Anosike’s work ethic and ability to rebound the ball has impressed Coach Rick Barnes since his arrival on campus.

“Man, you’re talking about a guy that is a worker (and) very serious,” Barnes said.

“He is going to do what he does. He can really rebound the ball because he really

wants to rebound the ball. He’s worked very, very hard on his three-point shot. As you can imagine, he’s really good around the rim. He’s a worker. He’s one of those guys that goes to the gym, and after you spend time working with him he’s going to go back and work on it and keep up with it. He’s very serious.”

While Anosike’s ability to rebound the ball and be a solid post threat will help the Vols be a well-rounded team, his leadership and work ethic will also be invaluable.

Anosike is a leader and just because he is transferring in from a different school into a new environment, doesn’t mean he will take his role of being a strong voice on and off the court any less serious.

“I feel like I’m a leader,” Anosike said.

“First, that’s one of the best aspects of my game. Me being a leader on and off the court, showing the guys what to do and correcting guys. I feel like me being vocal and me being one of the anchors of this team is something that I can bring to the table. I also pride myself on playing hard and being the hardest working player on the court and rebounding is just a byproduct of that, because I just love what I do.”

The Vols also have added two five star freshmen in Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson. Springer graduated from IMG Academy in Florida where he was recognized as a top 20 prospect nationally and viewed as one of the most versatile shooting guards in the nation with the athleticism he brings to the court.

This season, the Vols success will be predicated on the growth of newcomers and their ability to build chemistry with their teammates.

JEFFREY RUSSELL STAFF WRITER

Johnson graduated from The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. He was listed as the number one prospect in the state of Tennessee and a top 30 prospect nationally. Johnson had his senior season of high school cut short due to a knee injury but shouldn’t miss anytime this upcoming season. Springer and Johnson have impressed their teammates in their

Tennessee’s John Fulkerson, #10, defending a shot by Auburn at Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2020.

Sydney Goodsell / The Daily Beacon

short time on campus thus far.

“I think they’ll be great from day one,” junior guard Victor Bailey Jr. said. “Those guys are really talented, there’s a reason why they are who they are. They’re very talented guys, they’re young and they have fresh legs. It’s always great to have fresh legs coming in as a freshman and you can see it. They’re bouncy and they’re ready to go, so I’m excited to see what they can do.”

Pons has been one of the best defenders and athletes on the Vols roster in past years but with the addition of Johnson, he sees someone that has some freakish ability when it comes to physical talents.

“He (Keon Johnson) is a freak athlete,” Pons said. “I think he has some stuff that I do not have defensively. He has quick hands, but I still believe I’m bouncier than him.”

Springer has impressed in his early time on campus. He has found a way to fit into the culture of hard work while also understanding the offense and playing within his talents to maximize his ability.

Springer’s hard work has caught the eye of coach Barnes who thinks Springer can contribute early if he can get to the peak physical level required to excel as a college basketball player.

“There’s no doubt it is conditioning,” Barnes said. “It’s the same thing for Keon (Johnson) and Corey (Walker), it’s all conditioning. They have got to get themselves

to a point to where they understand what conditioning really means. Jaden understands what he’s doing and what he’s good at. He knows where to go and what he needs to get done. He’s a worker too. When I say worker, I think you guys know that is what our culture is built on. He’s a guy that has to get better at conditioning. Once he does, that’s going to take him to a whole other level.”

The other big name in the Vols recruiting class was forward Corey Walker. Walker was listed as a top 75 prospect nationally and was a driving force behind Hargrave Military Academy’s 36-4 record before the COVID-19 pandemic. In his senior year of high school, Walker averaged 15.2 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Walker will have a chance to play during his freshman year but like his other freshmen teammates, getting in shape will be a huge factor in his development according to coach Barnes.

“Getting in shape,” Barnes said. “I say this for most guys coming in and that’s where our normal summer they would have already been there. They would have had it figured out and we would have gotten a lot further along than they are right now. Corey is a step out guy. He’s got good skill, but like those other guys, he’s got to get in shape. Before he can do anything, he’s got to get in shape that it takes to play at the level that we want things sustained at.”

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, 11,2020 2020 Wednesday,November October 14,

2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Davis continuing to improve as player, leader entering senior season BARRETT WALKER Staff Writer Rennia Davis’ rise to NCAA Women’s basketball stardom is not a surprise. When Davis was a freshman at Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida, eyes were on her, like moths to a flame. Now, as a senior guard for Tennessee, she hopes to reach new heights with a more than capable cast around her.

In 2013-14, Davis started for her varsity basketball team as a freshman. That year, she played in 32 games and finished with 12.0 points , 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, according to MaxPreps.

Davis continued to improve every year she was in high school. Her senior year was a benchmark for high school women’s basketball. The guard finished the 2016-17 campaign with 26.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.9 steals and just 1.9 turnovers per game. Averaging a double-double, Davis led the Trojans to the 2017 state title.

Davis graduated high school ranking as the No. 3 prospect in Florida and No. 43 in the nation. She also amassed a total of 14 Player of the Game awards through her four years of high school, according to MaxPreps, as well as being named MVP of the 2016 Dick’s Sporting Goods High School Nationals at Madison Square Garden.

“The greatest lesson I learned in high school is the ability to win,” Davis said in an interview with The Florida Times-Union. “I was able to come to Ribault and understand the legacy that was there before me and embrace it positively.

Being on a team that won three state championships and a national title was quite the

achievement, and I plan on taking that same winning attitude to Tennessee with me as well.”

Davis provided a spark for the Lady Vols in her freshman season, averaging 12 points and 7.6 rebounds while starting 32 of 33 games for Tennessee. She also delivered in tournament play. In her first-ever SEC Tournament appearance, Davis knocked down a gamewinning three with .5 seconds left in the game against Auburn. In the NCAA Tournament, Davis recorded a team-high 18 points while also taking on 11 rebounds in her team’s firstround win against Liberty.

Davis finished the season garnering national attention. She was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. She finished No. 11 in rebounding in the SEC and was second among freshmen.

Davis would continue to improve in college as she did in high school. In her sophomore campaign, Davis averaged 14.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. She got even better in 2018-19, the junior averaged 18.0 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game.

In her opening season as the Lady Vols’ head coach, Kellie Harper relied heavily on Davis to help groom the incoming freshman and to continue the winning culture of Tennessee women’s basketball.

Davis and her teammates led the new-look Lady Vols to a 21-10 overall record, and a 10-6 SEC record. Tennessee defeated then-No. 15 Notre Dame in the third game of the season.

The Lady Vols won the first seven games of the season before falling to Texas, 60-66.

“Historically, one of the things that you can look at with Rennia’s performances is you can

see how she has improved every year,” Harper said. “I think she had a really good junior campaign, and what we would like to do is build on that. For her to take a really good season last year and even improve on that. She’s finding a little more diversity in her game. She’s gotten better at ball handling, she can really shoot, she can really score, and she’s a great athlete.

I’ve been really impressed with her defense this preseason. She’s done a really good job on the ball and off the ball. … We just want her to be Rennia and just find small ways to be better each and every day.”

Davis helped lead Tennessee to the third round of the SEC Tournament before falling to Kentucky. The Lady Vols were set for another trip to the NCAA Tournament before COVID-19 ended the season.

Tennessee had limited practice during the offseason because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

“Since March it has felt like so long, and I have been in the gym the whole time,” Davis said. “That’s all we could do in the pandemic, and obviously, we couldn’t get in a gym immediately, but outside I was just working on what I could. I’ve been focusing on my ball-handling and just overall strength and conditioning, and I feel like we have needed to get stronger this year, so I have been working on that and doing pretty good at it.”

The Lady Vols are expecting big things this season, despite the uncertainty around the schedule. Tennessee is bringing back four starters as well as three, four-star prospects and a first-team All-ASUN graduate transfer.

And Davis is sitting in the middle of it all.

She’ll once again be called to lead a still young Lady Vol basketball team. However,

while this team may be young, they gained vital experience last season, and each of the youngsters endured growing pains. They also had a player like Davis to look up to.

Questions have circulated as to what Davis is considering doing after the 2020-21 season with the NCAA granting all players an extra year of eligibility, but she isn’t focused on that.

“I’m not close to anything right now, but I am most focused on how we will do this season coming up,” Davis said. “I believe I have a lot of time to decide if I want to enter my name into the draft next year or decide on a fifth season, but today I am not as concerned about that as maybe other people are.”

No matter her future, Davis will look to give Tennessee another year to remember. Her game plan, like in years past, is to improve. She rose to the occasion to lead in high school. She has risen to the occasion to lead in college. And she will rise to the occasion this year as well.

When this season ends, people will look to describe Davis in a multitude of ways. Three words may be all you need: leader, fighter and star.

Rennia Davis, #0, at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Tennessee announces new arena seating plan for upcoming basketball season JEFFREY RUSSELL Staff Writer Tennessee announced its seating plan for the upcoming 2020-2021 men’s and women’s basketball season. Thompson-Boling arena will be at a capacity of 18% for the upcoming season which will see approximately 4,000 fans in the arena on game day.

Fans will be placed in seating pods that will have six feet of physical distance between them. In the arena, there will also be a 12-foot buffer zone encircling essential game day personnel that will be located on or around the playing floor.

Face coverings will also be required for fans and game day staff and must remain in place at all times unless someone is actively eating or drinking. These requirements fall in line with state and local government social distancing guidelines for public gatherings. Southeastern Conference guidelines will also be met with the current seating

plan in place.

Thompson-Boling Arena Photo courtesy of Andrew Ferguson / Tennessee Athletics Tickets for the upcoming Vols and Lady Vols season will be distributed in part as season tickets, but priority will be given based on Tennessee Fund annual gift amounts and rank order of current basketball season ticket holders. The number of season tickets will be much lower for the upcoming season to accommodate for other donors. The university will also be allocating significantly

fewer tickets for internal use. Visiting teams will be allotted 80 tickets per game.

“Despite having gone through a similar process for football earlier this fall, the reality that we will be unable to welcome all of our ticket holders into Thompson-Boling Arena this basketball season remains saddening,” Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer said. “There’s no easy way to adjust to the circumstances we find ourselves in. But we’ve been thoughtful and deliberate in attempting to offer attendance opportunities to as many of our seasonticket holders as possible while also maintaining the safest arena environment possible.”

Students have been assigned sections 128-130 on game day for Vols basketball and section 129 for Lady Vols basketball. The University of Tennessee Knoxville Office of Student Life will be overseeing the ticket allocation for those sections and the social distancing measures in place for those sections. The student ticket request process will

remain the same for the upcoming season with students being able to request tickets through the student ticket portal at BigOrangeTix.edu.

Tennessee men’s basketball schedule is still mostly unset for the upcoming season but one game the Vols do know is on their schedule is a game against Kansas in the Big12/SEC challenge. The Jayhawks will visit Thompson-Boling Arena on Jan. 30.

“We wish they could get the full experience of Thompson-Boling arena.” Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes said. “I think when a team like that (Kansas) comes in, I don’t think there’s any better arena in the country. I think anytime you go out, you have the chance to do something for your program one way or the other. We want to be in those games. We want to play one of the best schedules in the country.”

The meeting with Kansas will be the third straight year the two teams have faced.

Kansas won both matchups tight, including an overtime win during the 2018-19 season.