Ever since former Southern Mississippi coach Donnie Tyndall was hired at the University of Tennessee following Cuonzo Martin's departure, the Volunteers basketball team has undergone rapid turnover. They have lost 10 players and signed 7 more. They still have one roster spot left, which is thought to be for one of three players: Tariq Owens, a power forward prospect; Darius Thompson, a point guard who was released from Tennessee but could come back, and Robert Carter Jr., a Georgia Tech power forward transfer.
Players Departing (12): Jordan McRae (graduation), Jarnell Stokes (NBA Draft), Antonio Barton (graduation), Jeronne Maymon (graduation), D'Montre Edwards (graduation), Quinton Cheivous (transfer), A.J. Davis (transfer), Darius Thompson (transfer), Larry Austin Jr. (release from Letter of Intent), Phil Cofer (release from Letter of Intent), Jordan Cornish (release from Letter of Intent), and C.J. Turman (release of Letter of Intent).
Players Incoming (7): Kevin Punter (JUCO transfer), Detrick Mostella (freshman), Jabari McGhee (freshman), Eric McKnight (Transfer; FGCU), Devon Baulkman (freshman), Ian Chiles (Transfer; IUPUI), and Willie Carmichael (freshman)
Players Staying (7): Galen Campbell (Jr. G), Robert Hubbs III (Soph. G), Brandon Lopez (Sr. G), Armani Moore (Jr. G), Rawane Ndaiye (Sr. C), Derek Reese (Jr. F), and Josh Richardson (Sr. G/F)
The Volunteers obviously lost more players than they brought in. They also lost more talent. McRae and Stokes are prepping for the NBA Draft. They are trying to make this the first time two Tennessee players have been drafted in the same year since Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King were drafted in 1978. Maymon and Barton also started most of the games from last season. Darius Thompson played in all 37 games for the Volunteers, even starting a few games. Austin, Cofer, Cornish, and Turman were all signed under Cuonzo Martin, so when he left, they all left too. Austin is now signed with Xavier and Cofer is at Florida State. Turman is now with Florida Atlantic. A.J. Davis, Jordan Cornish, and Darius Thompson have not decided yet. There is still a small chance that Thompson could return to Tennessee.
Soon after all of the players left Tennessee, Coach Tyndall started to bring in players. The first was Kevin Punter, a JUCO All-American shooting guard. Mostella and McGhee were the next players to be brought in, both players that would be eligible for four years. Eric McKnight and Ian Chiles are both graduate students who have one year left. McKnight was a member of Florida Gulf Coast's "Dunk City" Sweet 16 Team, where he earned the nickname "McFlight". Chiles was one of the most heralded transfers, and he was rumored to be going to his hometown Louisville Cardinals. He averaged 15 points per game for IUPUI last season, and he and McKnight will be eligible to play to play right away. Devon Baulkman and Willie Carmichael are both big men that should be able to have immediate impacts.
There is much to be desired looking at Tennessee's returning players from last year. Galen Campbell and Brandon Lopez are backup point guards who appeared in a combined 15 games. Rawane Ndaiye is a 6'10" center who still might be cut from the team. Moore and Reese are both quality backups, but they do not have starting potential. That leaves possibly Tennessee's two best offensive options: Josh Richardson and Robert Hubbs III. Richardson broke out as a scorer in the NCAA Tournament last year. He will most likely be the first or second scoring option. Hubbs III was a five-star recruit. He most likely would have flourished at Tennessee last season if it weren't for a nagging shoulder injury that allowed him to play only 12 games last year.
Likely Starting Lineup:
G: Josh Richardson
G: Robert Hubbs III
G: Ian Chiles
F: Jabari McGhee
F: Eric McKnight
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