Breaking Down Tennessee's Frontcourt

Just who will be options for the Tennessee Volunteers in the frontcourt? How will they go about each player this upcoming basketball season?

It is no secret to the college basketball world that Tennessee's strength for the 2023-24 season comes from its backcourt. They have lots of depth at the guard spots on the floor, and it has become one of the deepest guard rooms in all college hoops.

However, the Vols have some questions for the frontcourt. How exactly will they go about rotations, and where does each big man on the roster fit? The way Tennessee's frontcourt initially shapes out, they have four true big men who can play on the lower side of the offensive floor. Those four players are Jonas Aidoo, Tobe Awaka, J.P. Estrella, and Cade Phillips.

Aidoo has the most experience out of the four, leading to the idea that he will start. He is a towering 6-11 and has a good hook shot from the low post area. He can be the centerpiece for the Vols' interior offense. He improved every stat in the book with the more minutes he got last season. Awaka comes into his sophomore year with a chip on his shoulder. He plays bigger than his 6-foot-8-inch frame, and it shows. He averaged nearly four rebounds in around 10 minutes of game time per contest. With being the 2nd oldest frontcourt player on the roster, he can be Tennessee's defensive anchor and rebound leader this season.

As for Estrella and Phillips, there are questions about them being freshmen and no experience yet with playing on Rocky Top. But as it stands, it looks like they will be the bench depth in place for Aidoo and Awaka. This will benefit the two players since Awaka and Aidoo both got bench minutes in their respective freshmen years. Although it may not be a dense frontcourt, there are certainly ways Tennessee can make it a good one with the players they have now. 

Tennessee Volunteers F Tobe Awaka during the NCAA Tournament on March 16th, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Russell Lansford of USA Today Sports)

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