Sophomore Ascension Key to Tennessee’s Season

By Kyle Williams, UTsports.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- After a 2016-17 season highlighted by the highest-scoring freshman class in Tennessee basketball history, head coach Rick Barnes is looking to ensure that there is no sophomore slump.

In his press conference during the Vols' Media Day on Thursday, Barnes addressed the productivity that last year's freshmen showed, but also emphasized that the collective mindset among the group needed to mature going into this season.

"You're always concerned about that jump, and how guys will improve," Barnes said. "Human nature tells us to sit back and relax if they think they've gotten things done. But I can tell you that Grant (Williams), Jordan Bone, and Jordan Bowden have all improved."

As the program continues on an upward trajectory, the players entering their second year will be given even more responsibility, if not all on the court. Even while some of them have not yet turned 20-years-old, a relatively young Vols roster has forced the sophomores into leadership roles, which, according to redshirt-sophomore guard Lamonte Turner, will become a benefit during the season.

"We've had to (become leaders)," Turner said. "When we came in as freshmen, we had guys that were 23- and 24-years-old. We don't really have that this year. Everyone is about the same age, so being a sophomore or junior, you're kind of like seniors here."

For Williams, the success found a year ago has little to do with the upcoming schedule. A member of the coaches' SEC All-Freshman Team last season, the 6-7 forward will look to help his team improve every day, which he hopes will translate into positive results as the year progresses.

"I feel like we've done a good job," Williams said. "But we still have a lot to get better at. That's something that (Coach Barnes) knows, and that's something that we know. The things that we do every day are going to factor into what we do during this year."

While players stepping into a larger role on the team can serve as a challenge, these sophomores will do so after having the privilege of playing with last year's senior class. According to Bowden, being able to observe from the viewpoint of a freshman a season ago provided him with more insight on what it takes to lead the team.

"I was in the same position last year," Bowden said. "(Robert Hubbs III) told me what I needed to do. I feel like I can do that this year having some experience under my belt. We're just trying to bring it every day, trying to push and challenge each other every day in practice to be able to do the things in a game."

Being a freshman at an SEC program can be difficult, but the experience brought along with it invaluable lessons for Bone. After recording a team-best 2.9 assists per game last year, the guard from Nashville figures to have an increased responsibility in the offense.

"Looking at last year, there's a lot of things we can learn," Bone said. "Our main emphasis is just competing better. I feel like if we compete better as a group, we'll be more successful with any category."

Following up a campaign in which the freshman class scored 1,140 points is not an easy feat. With individual accolades and raised expectations, this crop of Tennessee sophomores will have to face the pressure. It is a challenge that can either expose weaknesses or lift a program to new heights. The names may be the same as last season, but the goals and aspirations have been revamped.

"We have to prove it to ourselves, and we have to prove it to everyone else that we weren't a fluke," Williams said. "We're a team that can play with that top level of competition and win."

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jordan Bone

Jordan Bowden

Robert Hubbs III

Lamonte Turner

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