In a college basketball era not that long ago, this would be considered a rebuilding year for Tennessee with little hope of reaching the NCAA tournament.
The Volunteers, who have advanced to the March extravaganza’s Elite Eight round in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history, are moving on without their top four scorers from this past season and without their top five players in terms of minutes on the floor — guards Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, Jordan Gainey and Jahmai Mashack, and forward Igor Milicic Jr.
In fact, the most seasoned performer in terms of his time at Tennessee is junior-to-be forward Cade Phillips, who has averaged 12.8 minutes per game through his two seasons in Knoxville and is still seeking his first career start.
“At my end of the year meeting, they said I was the most tenured player left on the roster,” Phillips said Monday in a news conference. “That was kind of scary. It’s a little bit strange that it has already kind of become my year to set the culture and to lead the culture, but it’s exciting.
“This is what you come to Tennessee for — to be a part of teams that are remembered, and that’s what we plan to do.”