The Headliners: Which Vols are Primed For Starting Roles?

The Tennessee Volunteers return several established players, which leaves them several options for what the starting five could be on opening night.

Jonathan Lidskin | Aug 8, 2023

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Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee will be one the most experienced teams in the SEC and the country for the 2023-24 season. When Zakai Zeigler is finally healthy, the Vols could start Zeigler alongside Santiago Vescovi and then a handful of other guys. Zeigler and Vescovi are only the two guys that have definite starting spots. Let's make a case for why a couple of different guys could start and then predict what it will be.

Dalton Knecht

Dalton Knecht would be a no-brainer starter if I were coaching this team. Knecht shot 38% from three last season at Northern Colorado and adds another dimension offensively that the Vols didn't have last season. He hit four threes in Tennessee's opening game in Italy and will be a double-figure scorer, even making the jump from the Big Sky to the SEC. Knecht is 6'6, so the Vols wouldn't be undersized at the three.

Josiah-Jordan James

It felt like it was a toss-up whether or not Josiah-Jordan James would come back, but the four-year Vol will now use his covid year to play one more season in Knoxville. Last season, James battled an injury in the second half of the season that sidelined him for a notable period. He ended up playing 24 games and starting 14 of them, but his shot % was way higher than normal when he was out there. If JJJ is going to start, I would imagine it will be in a lower usage role.

Jonas Aidoo

With Uros Plavsic gone, Jonas Aidoo was a probable starter for Tennessee. As a sophomore last season, Aidoo played his role as a rebounder and rim protector very well. He never tried to do too much offensively, which showed as the Vols had a good offensive rating with him on the floor. At 6'11, it's more likely than not that Aidoo starts, but I wouldn't be surprised if Tennessee tried Tobe Awaka at the 5.

Tobe Awaka

The most interesting case here. Awaka can replace any of the three guys above him depending on how Rick Barnes wants to play his team, but there will be some strengths and weaknesses to starting him. If you start him over Knecht or JJJ, your shooting and perimeter defense automatically worsen. However, the Vols would be incredible on the glass and protecting the basket. If you start him over at Aidoo, they could be very undersized. While Awaka's athleticism and aggressiveness make up a lot of the time for him being 6'8, this isn't a mid-major conference. I don't think many coaches would feel comfortable starting a 6'8 center.

Jahmai Mashack

Unlike Awaka, Mashack's path to a starting spot is much simpler. If Barnes is adamant about having the number 1 defense in the country again, Mashack starts and plays a lot. You would lose a lot of shooting with Knecht or JJJ off the floor, but Tennessee would once again be the best team defending the perimeter in the country. I don't know if Mashack brings enough offensively to grab a starting spot.

Overall, I think Barnes knows that the Vols need more shooting than they had last year. With Knecht on the floor, Tennessee can still defend the perimeter well but also give a lot more room for Zeigler to operate in the half-court. Knecht also gives you another option on pin-down screens, so you don't have to try to force-feed JJJ this year.

Final Prediction:

PG: Zakai Zeigler
SG: Santiago Vescovi
CG: Dalton Knecht
F: Josiah-Jordan James
C: Jonas Aidoo

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Published Aug 8, 2023

JONATHAN LIDSKIN