Vol Hoops Report: Oct. 12

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- On the eve of the Rocky Top Tip-off fan-fest style event at Thompson-Boling Arena, Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes and associate head coach Rob Lanier met with the media to talk about the team heading into the event.

"We hope to create excitement for the fans and players, too," Barnes said. "When you think of both (our men's and women's) teams, we have put time in and worked hard. We enjoy that. It will be a fun time, and it's a great experience for the fans to come out and be around the players."

Doors open Friday at 6 p.m. ET, and the event is slated to run until 8 p.m. There is no charge for admission, and parking will be available for free, with fans encouraged to park in the G-10 garage on the east end of the arena. The G5/S30 lots located north of Phillip Fulmer Way will not be available.

The event, which offers Big Orange hoops fans a fun, first-hand look at the 2017-18 squads, will feature an autograph session, team introductions, a 3-point shooting competition and a dunk contest.

EMBRACING THE CULTURE

The Volunteers enter this season with a stable of experienced underclassmen, as the sophomores totaled the most points by a freshmen class in school history last year, but the squad is still searching for its team identity.

"I'm excited to start playing," Lanier said. "We are looking forward to it. We are still trying to develop an identity as a team. We are getting better, and we have really grown. The returners have improved because they have bought into the culture since getting here.

"The new guys have come in a little bit more prepared. A pleasant surprise for us has been Derrick Walker. He came in with a pretty good grasp of what this is all about, but he still has a long way to go. Chris Darrington was well coached in junior college. You can tell he was ready for Rick Barnes. James Daniel III is a veteran player. With the improvement of the returnees, the addition of some guys with experience and the return of Jalen Johnson and John Fulkerson, we are excited about the possibilities."

Despite that lack of identity, Tennessee continues to move forward in a positive manner based on the culture that third-year head coach Barnes has brought to the program. From the players to the coaching staff, everyone understands what it means to be a part of the Tennessee basketball program.

"It's a credit to Coach Barnes," Lanier said. "I have been around him for a while. Culture has become a buzzword these days. We didn't use it much back in 1999, when I was first around him. It obviously has some meaning, and we work harder because of it. Rick is the most hands-on coach I've ever been around. He is tremendous, and his constant desire to improve permeates throughout our program. That is starting to take hold. When we talk about the principle of our program, we talk about humility. Work ethic and humility go hand in hand. To really get better, you have to have a disposition that says you need to improve."

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

James Daniel III

Chris Darrington

John Fulkerson

Jalen Johnson

Derrick Walker

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