Insider drops intel about Tennessee basketball’s next move and it should have Vols fans excited
The Tennessee Vols’ season ended with a loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight.
The Tennessee Vols’ season ended with a blowout loss and a lesson.
Tennessee’s 95-62 loss to the Michigan Wolverines was brutal for Vols fans, but there’s a silver lining.
The Vols now know just how far away they are from truly competing for a national championship — they know what their roster needs to look like after running into a juggernaut in the Wolverines.
“We’re going to have to shoot the ball better,” said Barnes after the loss to Michigan when asked what it’ll take to get over the hump in the tournament. “There’s no doubt. We’ve got to shoot the ball better. We’re so inconsistent doing that. We still have to be better finishing around the rim. You’ve watched us all year and we missed too many of those shots.
“Obviously, our defense got us here. It really did. It’s no question. We’ve had games where we’ve struggled to score, but you’re playing against an outstanding team today that was scoring. But just simply, we all have to get better. We all have to keep working at it. We certainly know what it takes to get here, now we’ve got to figure out getting through to the next level.”
Tennessee is committed to building a championship roster
According to longtime Vols insider Tony Basilio, the Vols are “going for it” in the transfer portal.
“The portal will be very interesting because Tennessee has the want to and they have the funds… UT’s brass believes the best way to the Final Four is by flooding the sport with talent and by acquiring players in the portal,” noted Basilio this week. “I’m talking high level, proven impact players. Even raiding rosters in your own conference if need be. I believe the Vols are involved with at least a handful of SEC players. You’re not going to see names here but believe me when I tell you they’re going for it.”
Basilio’s comments line up with a report from Outkick’s Trey Wallace this week that noted that Tennessee is committed to giving Barnes the resources he needs to build a championship roster.
The Vols are already pursuing Belmont transfer guard Tyler Lundblade, who was in Knoxville this week for a visit. Tennessee was also named as a team to watch for Troy transfer forward Thomas Dowd.
The transfer portal officially opens on April 7.
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