Dan Fleser
Some thoughts and a pertinent question regarding Tennessee athletics:
Managing a program in the transfer-portal era begins with accepting the vagaries associated with it. Or better yet, embracing the roster churn as an opportunity.
“Every year, the excitement of putting together a team and putting the parts together is, honestly, it’s fun,” said Vols basketball coach Rick Barnes. “It really is.”
The 69-year-old Barnes, who just finished his 37th season as a coach, made this statement about two weeks ago, shortly after being blindsided by Jonas Aidoo’s decision to transfer. Nothing fun about that. But the Vols have put together a sufficient response to losing both Aidoo and fellow post player Tobe Awaka, adding transfers Felix Okpara (Ohio State) and Igor Milicic Jr. (Charlotte).
The 6-foot-11 Okpara averaged 2.4 blocks per game. Milicic, meanwhile, hit 56 3-pointers last season and shot 37 percent from long range. They joined 6-8 guard Dubar Darlinstone, who transferred from Hofstra after averaging 17.8 points per game last season.
Barnes has a capable staff to help with recruiting and player evaluation. They’ve maintained enough roster continuity to preserve the precious team culture. Coaches and players together can sell a track record of achievement. Overall, the program is well-positioned to take advantage of this new era.
Still, it’s no less important that Barnes apparently has a stomach for the churn.
Women’s basketball: My first thought after former Lady Vols great Candace Parker announced her retirement following a 16-year WNBA career was: where did the time go?
Thereafter, another query came to mind: Will we ever see another player like her at Tennessee?
The latter thought was born from a conversation with a former player, who wonders how new coach Kim Caldwell’s strategy of pressure defense and wholesale lineup substitutions will impact recruiting. On Caldwell’s Marshall team last season, no player averaged more than 28.7 minutes per game and only one player started every game. Top recruits typically crave a larger, more consistent presence.
The 1997-98 Tennessee team, the greatest team in program history, played pressure defense. Its top two stars – Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings – averaged 30 and 31 playing minutes per game respectively. But in the national championship game, all five starters played at least 34 minutes against Louisiana Tech.
This issue is something to think about.
Softball: The Lady Vols are positioned to win a second consecutive SEC regular-season championship during a three-game series against Kentucky this weekend at Lee Stadium. They lead second-place Texas A&M by a game.
Their ongoing league dominance is more impressive this season, given the diminished impact of star Kiki Milloy. The center fielder has a .263 batting average in conference play. Her average was boosted by a 4-for-9 series at Alabama last weekend. The player who led the nation in homers last season with 25 has just one in conference play, along with two RBIs.
Maybe finishing up SEC play will help her cause. It couldn’t hurt.
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Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri, who has covered University of Tennessee athletics since 1988. He is a member of the Tennessee Sportswriters and the U.S. Basketball Writers Halls of Fame. He can be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com.