The Tennessee Volunteers rank among the top teams in the nation on every category. The Vols are highly regarded by Kenpom, the AP Poll, and the NET Rankings. Rick Barnes has only been listed twice in the top 35 in offensive efficiency, despite producing butter-like defenses while at Tennessee. The Vols are ranked 21st in this particular year. Nevertheless, he boasted a number of performances in which he shot less than 40% from the field and, on some occasions, more than 50%, with no discernible pattern. It’s time to examine what prevents Tennessee from joining SEC opponents Alabama and Kentucky in the top ten offense club, given how impressive their offensive performances are.
Tennessee Volunteers’ Struggles on Offense
This year, Tennessee’s offense has put on a number of standout performances. As I mentioned before, scoring 92 at home against North Carolina and 90 against Ole Miss is the highest on the list. But then there were also the 16 turnovers against a Mississippi State club that isn’t known for forcing turnovers, and the 36 percent shooting performance against Tarleton State.
The Offense Struggles of the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee’s offense has displayed several impressive displays this season. As previously stated, the highest on the list is 92 points scored at home against North Carolina and 90 points against Ole Miss. However, there were also the 36 percent shooting effort against Tarleton State and the 16 turnovers against a Mississippi State team that isn’t known for pressuring opponents into making mistakes.
The primary issue facing Tennessee is its identity crisis. Tennessee’s offensive free throw percentage is 27th, but just 19.6% of their points are scored from beyond the arc. That ranks 150th in the nation. Furthermore, only 24.3% of their opponents’ possessions result in a foul. That ranks 167th in the nation. Tennessee is a fantastic free-throw shooting team, but they just don’t put enough pressure on the hoop, which prevents them from reaching the line.
A team should be shooting or making a lot of threes if they are not applying pressure to the rim. Tennessee doesn’t do either. They are 100th in three-point % but 172nd in three-point percentage of shots made in the nation. In terms of percentage of points earned from twos, Tennessee is ranked 281st. Tennessee doesn’t know what kind of game they want to play heading into it.
In contrast, Tennessee ranked third in offensive efficiency in 2019—by far Barnes’s best offensive performance at Tennessee and his best since 2008. Tennessee’s percentage of points made from two-point range this season ranked 29th. They were going to play within the perimeter and do it effectively; they had an identity. Tennessee is having trouble because they don’t have that this year. Not to worry, they rank 21st in offensive efficiency, and the defense can save them when things go tough. In terms of defensive effectiveness, North Carolina ranks tenth. The Vols hung 92 against the highest opposition they had seen all season. Tennessee’s offensive has the potential to be really deadly; they simply need to identify and focus on their strongest suit.
