Mike Strange: Five observations on Tennessee basketball

Here are five observations on Tennessee men's basketball headed into the offseason:

1. Scoring Struggles: The good news is Tennessee played better defense (LSU being a costly exception) late in the season. The bad news is it paid off in only one win, 59-54 over Alabama. The Vols' offense, so entertaining to watch for the better part of three months, went kaput. A 59-57 loss to Georgia in the SEC tournament on Thursday was par for the course.

The offense and defense were not on the same page often enough to extend Tennessee's season any deeper into March. It appears the Vols are finished at 16-16, losers in six of the final eight games. Coach Rick Barnes and staff must address the scoring issues to make progress in 2017-18.

2. Bone Ends on Uptick: Jordan Bone began his career with a splash, missed nine games due to an injury, then struggled to regain his lost momentum. By the stretch run it was more down than up. But the best news from UT's brief SEC tournament visit was Bone's re-emergence. He came off the bench – and out of Rick Barnes' doghouse – for 14 points and five assists in 24 minutes against Georgia. That after playing only three minutes against Alabama.

Bone's upside is obvious. He can score, he has jets, he's a natural point guard. However, his intensity on defense and mental toughness must improve and that's why Barnes has been so hard on him. It's better for all parties that Bone goes into the offseason off a strong performance rather than being bummed on the bench.

3. Hubbs Fade: Robert Hubbs III's career at Tennessee reflects incremental improvement from each season to the next. As a senior, he rated second-team All-SEC and earned kudos from Barnes for his toughness and leadership. It was disappointing to see his time as a Vol end on a down cycle. Hubbs' right knee was a painful issue but to what extent in affected his late-season play we'll never know.

Hubbs scored in double figures in 20 of UT's first 23 games but only four of the final nine. In his final three games, he totaled 20 points on 8-of-31 shooting and wasn't on the floor for crucial stretches in the second half. He finishes with 1,046 points, in 47th place on the career scoring list.

4. Reinforcements: Subtract seniors Hubbs and Lew Evans. And, who knows, maybe an underclass defection. Add five new pieces to the puzzle. At least five. One freshman, Zach Kent, is signed. Two others, Derrick Walker and Yves Pons, are committed. Jalen Johnson is ready to showcase the benefits he gained from a redshirt season. John Fulkerson is back after a season-ending injury in December.

Adding the 6-foot-11 Kent and 6-8 Walker and regaining 6-7 Fulkerson, Tennessee addresses its size deficit. Pons and Johnson are athletic wing types who could gobble up Hubbs' minutes. With so many guards battling for playing time, it wouldn't be shocking if someone looks elsewhere. If so, a junior-college or grad transfer would be a logical replacement.

5. This Time Next Year: That's the money question, will the Vols be dancing next March? It's been three years with no postseason action beyond the SEC tournament. By his third season, Barnes will have a deep roster and it won't be overly dependent on freshmen. There won't be a senior in the bunch, but most key components will have experienced at least one season-long grind.

I wouldn't stick the Vols in the early, early 2018 bracket but they have the resources to get there. In an NCAA tournament-worthy scenario, Bone matures into a capable lead guard, there is adequate perimeter shooting and Grant Williams gets help in the paint. It's not at all unreasonable.

Mike Strange may be reached at mike.strange@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at Strangemike44.