Tennessee comes to Boulder next season. Last year, we lost by 10 in Knoxville after scheduling the game a couple days prior. Tough match up with fans in the stands for Tennessee, no Parquet (among others for CU), and no real time to scout the opponent. Tennessee was a very talented team that was ranked for much of the season before falling flat late in the year.
This year, they will bring in a top 5 consensus recruiting class. One of the best in the country hands down. Top PG Kennedy Chandler and top PF Brandon Huntley-Hatfield lead the group. Former CU target Jahmai Mashack also committed as a really solid, sharp shooting, wing. They added some size with 7 footer Aidoo, a top 50 prospect. Auburn sharp shooter Justin Powell also transferred to Tennessee giving them much more offensive punch.
In the off season, Tennessee's biggest news was the return of forward John Fulkerson from the COVID year. When he went down, Tennessee couldn't really beat anybody and they dropped from top 10 in the rankings to out of the rankings completely. His return is a big boost for their line up. On the flip side, Tennessee lost several prospects. Tennessee lost last year's 5* players Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer to the NBA draft. Yves Pons also left for the NBA draft. They also have several transfers including power forward Drew Pember, Devonte Gaines, last year's transfer EJ Anisoke, and 4* Corey Walker among others. Josiah Jordan-James, Santiago Vescovi, and Victor Bailey return in their 3 guard line up. Tennessee obviously lost Kim English to a head job, but lost another assistant to a head job as well and a 3rd moved on. They will have all new assistants for next year.
Tennessee faithful are talking national title next season although most admit that they do not have the front court depth for such a run. They are hoping to add another player there (who knows with the Arizona big man on the market... they may just land one). Fulkerson returning is huge for them or it would be all incoming freshmen up front for them.
Going to be a tough match up with Tennessee. Their recruiting has improved every year since Barnes got there. They crawled up from near last in the SEC to now tops in the SEC. 5*s are going there in droves. It's the new stop for 1 and done's. Interestingly though, unless things change, they are similar to CU in many ways. They are going to be very guard heavy and very young in the back court. Up front, they lack depth but not talent. The two teams could be virtual mirror images of each other when they arrive in Boulder. Could be a great battle if CU is ready for it. Obviously, we don't have anybody that is an NBA surefire 1st round draft pick on the team and they will have like 3-4 of those. They will probably be the most talented team to come to Boulder next season with Kansas and UCLA close behind.
This year, they will bring in a top 5 consensus recruiting class. One of the best in the country hands down. Top PG Kennedy Chandler and top PF Brandon Huntley-Hatfield lead the group. Former CU target Jahmai Mashack also committed as a really solid, sharp shooting, wing. They added some size with 7 footer Aidoo, a top 50 prospect. Auburn sharp shooter Justin Powell also transferred to Tennessee giving them much more offensive punch.
In the off season, Tennessee's biggest news was the return of forward John Fulkerson from the COVID year. When he went down, Tennessee couldn't really beat anybody and they dropped from top 10 in the rankings to out of the rankings completely. His return is a big boost for their line up. On the flip side, Tennessee lost several prospects. Tennessee lost last year's 5* players Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer to the NBA draft. Yves Pons also left for the NBA draft. They also have several transfers including power forward Drew Pember, Devonte Gaines, last year's transfer EJ Anisoke, and 4* Corey Walker among others. Josiah Jordan-James, Santiago Vescovi, and Victor Bailey return in their 3 guard line up. Tennessee obviously lost Kim English to a head job, but lost another assistant to a head job as well and a 3rd moved on. They will have all new assistants for next year.
Tennessee faithful are talking national title next season although most admit that they do not have the front court depth for such a run. They are hoping to add another player there (who knows with the Arizona big man on the market... they may just land one). Fulkerson returning is huge for them or it would be all incoming freshmen up front for them.
Going to be a tough match up with Tennessee. Their recruiting has improved every year since Barnes got there. They crawled up from near last in the SEC to now tops in the SEC. 5*s are going there in droves. It's the new stop for 1 and done's. Interestingly though, unless things change, they are similar to CU in many ways. They are going to be very guard heavy and very young in the back court. Up front, they lack depth but not talent. The two teams could be virtual mirror images of each other when they arrive in Boulder. Could be a great battle if CU is ready for it. Obviously, we don't have anybody that is an NBA surefire 1st round draft pick on the team and they will have like 3-4 of those. They will probably be the most talented team to come to Boulder next season with Kansas and UCLA close behind.
