Rick Barnes has created a program at Tennessee with a distinct signature: defense. For every season since 2020-21, the Vols have finished in the top 5 of my defensive efficiency (points per possession adjusted for opponent).
This season, they have another asset: projected NBA lottery pick Dalton Knecht. You will hear his story all March.
Knecht stood 5’6” as a high school freshman and didn’t seem like a future star. He grew to 6’3” by his senior year in high school and then finally his current 6’6” by the end of two years at Northeastern Junior College.
After two seasons in junior college, Knecht transferred to Northern Colorado and developed an offensive game worthy of the NBA. After two seasons, he moved again, choosing Tennessee as a place to work on his defense. He provides offensive spark that Tennessee has not had the past few seasons.
On offense, Knecht is strong and athletic at this height. Knecht is making 40.5% of his three pointers. This rate is a career high, and he doesn’t have an elite free throw percentage, so expect regression in this number (three and free throw percentages are correlated for players). Knecht also gets to the basket and makes 51.9% of his twos.
For other Tennessee players, point guard Zakai Zeigler is the heart and soul of the team. At 5’9”, he is an elite defender still working on his offense.
Santiago Vescovi is a 6’3” senior from Uruguay in his fifth season at Tennessee. With Knecht, his role on offense has diminished. However, he is a capable shooter, and his 34.2% from three should get better (a career low for Vescovi).
Heading into the SEC tournament, Tennessee ranks 2nd in my defensive efficiency, not a surprise. Knecht gives Tennessee the offensive lift that has them ranked 3rd in my member college basketball rankings.
Do not be surprised if Tennessee makes a deep run in the 2024 NCAA tournament.
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