KNOXVILLE – Tennessee has waved good-bye to some talented, productive basketball players in Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone and Kyle Alexander.
All four have moved on to NBA rosters, which tempers the sorrow Vols guard Jordan Bowden feels about their absence.
“It sucks seeing those guys are gone,” he said on Friday. “They’re living the dream now.”
With them gone, UT has lost four of its five starters and 70 percent of its scoring from last season. The Vols will transition from an experienced roster to one with five first-year players and three others who have logged 17 playing minutes or fewer in their careers.
No matter, Bowden considered the current roster during the UT’s annual preseason media day and said there are players who will be “unique and special.”
“We’re not worried about what everybody’s saying,” the senior said. “We’re worried about what’s in here right now. It’s about us going about our business and getting better each and every day. So come March we’re playing our best basketball.”
Here’s a media day view of UT’s business:
Mr. Versatility: Josiah-Jordan James is Tennessee’s first McDonald’s All-American since Tobias Harris in 2010. The 6-foot-6 freshman previews as a point guard, but Vols coach Rick Barnes made a point on Friday of expanding James’ profile.
“We’ll use him in any and every way that we have to because he’s the kind of player that (is) very versatile,” Barnes said.
Teammate LaMonte Turner has noticed an unusual intangible with his new teammate.
“I think he has a natural patience that most freshmen don’t come in with,” Turner said.
Although James has been slowed recently by a hip injury, Barnes thinks that James banked enough preparation during the summer to not be falling behind.
“He has worked as hard as any player we have had coming in as a freshman,” Barnes said. “He came in with one thought – that he wanted to get better.
“He wants to win. He is one of those guys that winning matters to him.”
Getting well: Barnes said that UT has been playing it safe with James’ injury.
“We’ve been very cautious, as you would expect us to be,” he said.
Fellow freshman Davonte Gaines, who underwent surgery on his right thumb in September, said that he will be back next week. Barnes said that freshman forward Drew Pember, who has been slowed by a nagging foot injury from his high school days locally at Bearden, has been increasing his work load lately.
Getting longer: Gaines and Pember are among the 11 players on Tennessee’s roster who stand 6-foot-5 or taller.
James said that he’s being prepared to guard not only guards but also small forwards. Gaines’ wingspan enhances his 6-7 stature, making him a threat to block shots.
Along with rebounding, Barnes’ hopes UT’s length pays off on defense.
“We’re hoping we’ll be able to turn people over more than we have in the past,” he said.
Waiting game: The longest of the long is 7-foot Uros Plavsic, who played one season at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga before redshirting last season at Arizona State.
Plavsic is practicing but isn’t eligible yet as Tennessee awaits a decision from the NCAA on a waiver request.
Barnes is optimistic.
“I think that’s my personality,” he said. “I feel like people always do the right thing, knowing the situation he was in.”
Plavsic is patient.
“You think about it but at the same time, I’m trying to stay focused on what we’re doing on the court,” he said. “What happens, happens. I’m getting ready. I’m practicing every day.”
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Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri who covered University of Tennessee athletics for the Knoxville News Sentinel from 1988-2019. He may be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com.