March Madness: Why this Tennessee team is so special

Tennessee fans hope that the Volunteers can make their first Final Four in program history in 2024. However, others believe the Vols can potentially win it all. The Volunteers clinched sole possession of the regular season SEC Championship this past Wednesday with a victory on the road against the 17th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. The Vols have not won sole possession of the SEC regular season since 2008. The Volunteers, with a favorable path to bring home their 6th SEC Tournament Championship, aspire to be a one-seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time. The team is being led by future Hall of Fame coach Rick Barnes, who has 27 playoff berths in his 36 seasons. The Tennessee Vols have never made it to a Final Four, but this could be the team to do it. This could be the team because of multiple things, starting with the defense. Rick Barnes-coached teams have always been known for their lockdown defense, and this year is no different. The team is ranked third in the country in the adjusted defense category on KenPom. However, the big thing that sets this team apart from those squads prior is the offense. The Volunteers have jumped from 64th up to 25th in Adjusted Offense, and it shows, as the Vols average almost ten more points per game than last season/ This team is also shooting better from the field, from three, and at the free throw line.

The astounding jump is primarily due to senior transfer Dalton Knecht from Northern Colorado. Knecht has taken the team to the next level, as he can seemingly do it all on the offensive side of the ball. Knecht brought home the SEC Player of the Year, earned First-Team All-American honors, and is one of the favorites to bring home the John R. Wooden Award. In a season where Knecht shattered school records and made history, he averaged 21.4 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 47.4% from the field and 40.5% from three in the regular season. Knecht scored 35+ points in 6 games this season and has set himself up nicely to be a lottery pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht isn’t the only one the Volunteers have, though. They have one of the deeper backcourts in the nation, headed by Junior point guard Zakai Zeigler. Zeigler also racked up, bringing home the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award, First-Team SEC honors, and his third consecutive appearance on the All-SEC defensive team. Ziegler also had an excellent offensive season, averaging 6.0 assists, shooting 40.4% from the field and 35.3 from three. Another force in the backcourt is a former 2-time first-team All-SEC and veteran Senior Santiago Vescovi, who has taken a back seat this season with the addition of Dalton Knecht. While having a down season, Vescovi still brings stellar defense, secondary ball-handling skills, and knockdown shooting. The other two guards who get significant minutes are juniors Jamhai Mashack and Jordan Gainey. While not getting All-SEC defensive team honors, Mashack has proven in the past that he can guard some of the best ball-handlers in the country and hit a clutch shot. On the other hand, Gainey gives the Vols spot-up shooting, something the team has lacked in years past.

While having one of the best backcourts in the country, the frontcourt is by no means a slouch. It is led by Senior forward Jonas Aidoo, who has shown significant improvement from last year. With his elite shot-blocking ability and phenomenal post-scoring, Aidoo has truly solidified himself as one of the country’s best bigs, and his season earned him All-SEC second team and All-SEC Defensive second-team honors. Alongside him in the frontcourt is senior forward Josiah-Jordan James, who has been a four-year starter for the Volunteers, helping to lead them to a Conference Championship in 2022. James is another elite defender with shooting upside and is just another piece to this team that sets it aside. Another guy who gives both men rest when they need it is sophomore Tobe Awaka, who brings unmatched physicality to his game at both ends of the floor. Awaka’s physicality shows he can solidify himself as a formidable big in this league next season. The Tennessee Volunteers have the potential to make a March run, never seen by fans of the team prior. Coach Rick Barnes, Dalton, Knect, elite frontcourt, and backcourt play show that this team can hang with the best of them. Will the Vols make a run and potentially cut the nets and hoist the Naismith trophy for the nation to see? Buckle up, Vol Nation, because March Madness looks to be a wild and fun ride.