KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s season ended on Sunday afternoon in the Elite 8 following a 72-66 loss to Purdue.
As the season comes to a close, we take an early look into what the Vols are looking like so far headed into the 2024-2025 season.
Players leaving
The Vols are losing a lot headed into next year in terms of experience and talent.
Dalton Knecht, who was a first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year, will not be back and will likely be a top-15 NBA Draft pick.
He averaged 21.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He was the best three-point shooter for the Vols this season and had eight 30+ point games.
Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi leave the program as fifth-year seniors. Their leadership and knowledge of how head coach Rick Barnes are intangibles that will be missed.
Throughout their time, they’ve been extensions of the coaches’ voices. They were also two of the best defenders on the Vols this season.
Vescovi leaves as the all-time steals leader for Tennessee. He is also the career starts leader for UT.
Jonas Aidoo has entered the transfer portal, along with Tobe Awaka, Freddie Dilione, and D.J. Jefferson.
Tennessee will lose four starters, so they will need players returning to really step up.
Players returning
The Vols return a lot of players who saw a lot of minutes this season.
Zakai Zeigler, who was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year this season, will be the main returner for the Vols.
He averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 assists 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
Jahmai Mashack, who is just as effective on defense as Zeigler, will return as well. Zeigler and Mashack will be the vocal leaders UT will need next year.
He averaged 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. The big thing for him moving forward is consistency. He had some great performances this season, but then games where he wasn’t nearly as sharp.
Another player returning who really improved defensively throughout the year is Jordan Gainey. He was known as a scorer coming in but made some big defensive plays against Purdue that brought the Vols back from down eight in the second half. He looks promising as a complete player next season.
The Vols will need other players who didn’t play as many minutes to take on bigger roles next season. Cameron Carr, J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips will have opportunities.
Players coming in
The Vols have one signee for 2024, which will be incoming Bishop Boswell who is a four-star combo guard.
Tennessee could use some offensive weapons next season that they could add through the transfer portal. Knecht was as massive of a pickup as they possibly could get that really sparked an Elite 8 appearance with the potential to win a national title.
It would be obviously beneficial if UT could land a top transfer again.
