Tennessee basketball is 13-0, but 0-0 in coach Rick Barnes eyes because one season is over and another is beckoning.
The Vols wrapped up an undefeated nonconference run with a 67-52 win against Norfolk State on Tuesday at Food City Center then Barnes looked ahead to the much-anticipated start of SEC play.
“You can throw it all out,” Barnes said. “We’re 0-0 like everybody else. Rankings mean nothing.”
Here are six thoughts about Tennessee’s nonconference season:
Tennessee has figured out what works for the program in the portal
Tennessee’s first attempts in the transfer portal were mostly disasters. It hasn’t missed in the past two cycles.
Dalton Knecht is the jewel of the portal era for Tennessee and arguably nationally. UT also hit with Jordan Gainey in that portal cycle. He is an elite sixth man. The Vols then got the four-man group of Darlinstone Dubar, Chaz Lanier, Igor Milicic Jr. and Felix Okpara before this season. Lanier is one of the best portal gets in the nation this season.
But the biggest reason the portal is working out so well for Tennessee is the people it got. Tennessee is No. 1 and winning early because it meshed a roster with a backbone of returning leadership with talented newcomers. Such sudden success takes adding the right people to your program.
PORTAL:The inside story on how Tennessee basketball, Rick Barnes recruited transfer portal class
Zakai Zeigler is earning All-American honors
Zakai Zeigler was a suspect omission from most preseason All-American lists. He won’t be omitted from in the postseason.
The senior guard is averaging 11.7 points and 8.1 assists, while being the spark plug to Tennessee’s offense and its essential leader.
Zeigler is on pace to set the Tennessee record for assists in a season and assists per game. Rodney Woods holds the record for both, averaging 8.7 and totaling 227 in the 1974-75 season.
Igor Milicic Jr. has changed Tennessee in many ways
Milicic Jr. has affected Tennessee impressively as a 6-10 forward.
He is rebounding at an elite level and is a key reason Tennessee is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. He moves incredibly well for his size and is a playmaker and a floor-spacer. His size and shooting threat affect how opposing defenses handle UT.
His 3-point shot will come around and elevate the Vols even more.
Stop comparing Chaz Lanier to Dalton Knecht
The reason for the comparison between Lanier and Knecht is obvious. Both are high-scoring transfer guards, but they are not the same player.
Lanier uses his quick release to do more of his damage on jumpers and 3-pointers than Knecht, who was more of a three-level scorer. Lanier is taking 52.2% of his shots from three. Knecht took 40.6% of his shots as 3-pointers and had more than twice as many free-throw attempts per game.
Knecht also created more shots off the dribble, where Lanier relies more on being a catch-and-shoot threat.
Both are outstanding scoring talents and integral parts of Tennessee’s recent success. They are just doing it differently and don’t need to be compared.
Depth still feels like a potential pitfall for the Vols
Tennessee is mostly relying on seven players and piling heavy minutes on those players. That’s a tight rotation to sustain through conference play and into the postseason.
The Vols lean on Gainey and Cade Phillips as the two bench players with a sprinkling of Dubar and even less Bishop Boswell. The latter two could gain minutes, but it’s possible the rotation remains limited to seven.
Zeigler’s 33.3 minutes per game are the biggest cause for concern.
Cade Phillips’ development solidified the roster
Phillips’ freshman year was an injury, a likely redshirt, early season contributions, and a small late-season role.
PHILLIPS:Cade Phillips is a star role player for Tennessee basketball. How he’s affecting the Vols
He came back as an improved player and has settled the roster. He’s a lob threat, an athletic defender, and a hustle-play aficionado. His improvement also has been massive with J.P. Estrella out for the season after having foot surgery and Dubar being in and out of the picture early.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky@bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
As the Tennessee Volunteers gear up for SEC play, all eyes are on star players Chaz Lanier and Igor Milciic Jr. These two talented athletes have been instrumental in the team’s success so far this season, and fans are excited to see what they can do against tougher conference competition.
Lanier, a dynamic point guard, has been a scoring machine for the Vols, leading the team in points per game and assists. His ability to create shots for himself and his teammates will be crucial in SEC play, where defenses will be more aggressive and physical.
Milciic Jr., on the other hand, has been a force in the paint for Tennessee, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. His size and strength make him a tough matchup for any opponent, and his presence will be key in controlling the boards and protecting the rim in conference play.
As the Vols prepare to take on some of the best teams in the SEC, both Lanier and Milciic Jr. are focused and determined to lead their team to victory. With their talent and leadership, Tennessee is poised to make some noise in the conference and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates on Chaz Lanier, Igor Milciic Jr., and the Tennessee Volunteers as they begin their SEC journey. Let’s go Vols! #SECplay #TennesseeBasketball #ChazLanier #IgorMilciicJr
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