Tennessee Blue Ribbon Preview

[golfballs]

Here's the bottom line:

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: B+
BENCH/DEPTH: A
FRONTCOURT: A
INTANGIBLES: B+

Cuonzo Martin has already proven he's capable of carrying on the program-resurrecting work done by former coach Bruce Pearl and his staff. Can Martin take things a step farther?

Look for the Vols to return to the NCAA tournament this season after a one-year absence. And if point guard Trae Golden is up to the task of leading, this team is good enough to make a deep run.

NCB - Blue Ribbon 2012-13 college basketball preview - Tennessee Volunteers - ESPN

Here are the grades of the other SEC teams:

ALABAMA
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: C+
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: B

ARKANSAS
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: C+
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: B

AUBURN
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: C+
FRONTCOURT: B-
INTANGIBLES: C

FLORIDA
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: B+
FRONTCOURT: A
INTANGIBLES: A

GEORGIA
BACKCOURT: B-
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: B-
INTANGIBLES: C+

KENTUCKY
BACKCOURT: A-
BENCH/DEPTH: B+
FRONTCOURT: A
INTANGIBLES: A+

LSU
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: C

MISSISSIPPI STATE
BACKCOURT: B-
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: C

MISSOURI
BACKCOURT: A
BENCH/DEPTH: B+
FRONTCOURT: B
INTANGIBLES: B+

OLE MISS
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: B
FRONTCOURT: A
INTANGIBLES: C+

SOUTH CAROLINA
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: B

TEXAS A&M
BACKCOURT: B-
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: C-
INTANGIBLES: C

VANDERBILT
BACKCOURT: B
BENCH/DEPTH: C
FRONTCOURT: B-
INTANGIBLES: B

 

[zjcvols]

Wanna how consistent Maymon was last year?

He scored at least 12 points in every regular-season SEC game.

I don't even think Anthony Davis did that.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

How long is Maymon suppose to be out?

 

[MemphisCanes]

Interesting "A" on UT's bench depth.

 

[zjcvols]

How long is Maymom suppose to be out?

Most likely the season opener. The idea seems be that he'll miss the first couple games before the Puerto Rico Tip Off Tourney and then they will reevaluate him.

 

[golfballs]

Wanna how consistent Maymon was last year?

He scored at least 12 points in every regular-season SEC game.

I don't even think Anthony Davis did that.

Yeah, that's why I thought he should have gotten first team all-sec. If you just look at SEC games, he deserved it, IMO.

 

[zjcvols]

Interesting "A" on UT's bench depth.

I'd put it at a B+ because UT has decent bodies, but it was surprising.

 

[dlw4n]

Wanna how consistent Maymon was last year?

He scored at least 12 points in every regular-season SEC game.

I don't even think Anthony Davis did that.

I like where your head is at, but I don't think Maymon averaged 4.7 blocks per game, either. I just hope he's healthy. If he can't see the floor with legs strong enough to get him through the games, he can't score. I hope Hall and the others are ready to shine this year. They are going to get their chances.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

Most likely the season opener. The idea seems be that he'll miss the first couple games before the Puerto Rico Tip Off Tourney and then they will reevaluate him.

Hopefully it won't set us back a bunch in the first couple of games. The other big men will get more playing time which is very good in developing their skill set.

 

[MemphisCanes]

I'd put it at a B+ because UT has decent bodies, but it was surprising.

Totalling up the grades, UT is ranked 4th behind Mizzou, Florida and UK, which is reasonable.

With a healthy Maymon, UT has the best frontcourt in the SEC. I'd have given them a bump in that dept.

UT has bodies, but not a lot of proven players coming off the bench.

 

[zjcvols]

Totalling up the grades, UT is ranked 4th behind Mizzou, Florida and UK, which is reasonable.

With a healthy Maymon, UT has the best frontcourt in the SEC. I'd have given them a bump in that dept.

UT has bodies, but not a lot of proven players coming off the bench.

Right now the bench is Moore, McRae, Richardson, Hall (I know Maymon is out, but let's just say a miracle happens and he only misses two games), and Makanjoula.

That's a frosh, two sophomores, a junior, and a senior, with three guys with starting experience. That's also three top 150 guys there.

 

[MemphisCanes]

Right now the bench is Moore, McRae, Richardson, Hall (I know Maymon is out, but let's just say a miracle happens and he only misses two games), and Makanjoula.

That's a frosh, two sophomores, a junior, and a senior, with three guys with starting experience. That's also three top 150 guys there.

I hear you. McRae and Hall will be solid contributors. Thats a 7 man rotation, and while it may be what Martin wants to run, it's not what I would call "deep".

The other three are question marks. They may be productive this season, but it's a wait and see deal with them.

 

[zjcvols]

I hear you. McRae and Hall will be solid contributors. Thats a 7 man rotation, and while it may be what Martin wants to run, it's not what I would call "deep".

The other three are question marks. They may be productive this season, but it's a wait and see deal with them.

Richardson is solid too. Limited, but solid. He did a great job on some good players last year. He also might be starting this year.

 

[dlw4n]

With the ish storm that is college football right now, I cannot wait to see some Volball. Can't get here soon enough. Godspeed to Maymon and his sore knee.

 

[johnnybravo]

I disagree of KY having a benchdepth of B+.

 

[golfballs]

Totalling up the grades, UT is ranked 4th behind Mizzou, Florida and UK, which is reasonable.

With a healthy Maymon, UT has the best frontcourt in the SEC. I'd have given them a bump in that dept.

UT has bodies, but not a lot of proven players coming off the bench.

I think your math is wrong. I have Tennessee 3rd. Tennessee has 2 a's and 2 b+'s. Missouri has an a 2 b+'s and a b.

 

[zansdad]

No grades lower than a C- for anyone in the conference? They must be grading on a curve.

 

[golfballs]

No grades lower than a C- for anyone in the conference? They must be grading on a curve.

Compared to the rest of college hoops

 

[SJAVol32]

I disagree of KY having a benchdepth of B+.

Yeah past Clien and Beckem (and his injured) they are struggling with depth.

 

[zansdad]

Compared to the rest of college hoops

Yeah, I kinda figured as much. It doesn't really mean much when your grading BCS schools against teams that are barely D1.

 

[UK101]

B+ on our depth? Ill take that

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Most likely the season opener. The idea seems be that he'll miss the first couple games before the Puerto Rico Tip Off Tourney and then they will reevaluate him.

There's only one game before puerto rico iirc

 

[zjcvols]

There's only one game before puerto rico iirc

Correct. We always play UNC Asheville and assumed we played them at TBA again this year, but it's in Puerto Rico.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Correct. We always play UNC Asheville and assumed we played them at TBA again this year, but it's in Puerto Rico.

I have a feeling maymon is out for puerto Rico and will be back early December.

 

[MemphisCanes]

I think your math is wrong. I have Tennessee 3rd. Tennessee has 2 a's and 2 b+'s. Missouri has an a 2 b+'s and a b.

Yeah, so third. That's how I would pick the league.

UK
UF
UT
UM

Room for lots of jostling between those 4. I could see those teams finishing in any combo, except maybe Mizzou being first.