SEC play starts next week as your No. 8 ranked Tennessee Volunteers (6-0) travel to Columbia to player former Tennessee basketball men’s Head Counzo Martins and his undefeated Missouri Tigers (6-0).
The Vols have primarily relied on their defense so far this season, as the inherent athleticism, long arms and big frames of the perimeter players — Santiago Vescovi, Victor Bailey, Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson — have made life extremely difficult for opposing offenses. These guys suffocate with ball pressure and challenge every pass with great ball denial defense.
On the interior, senior post players Yves Pons and John Fulkerson have been solid contributors after having breakout seasons in a shortened 2019 season that left a national champion uncrowned and didn’t finish because of the COVID-19 pandemic.