JOHN ADAMS

John Adams: Improved Tennessee basketball team will face a tougher SEC

John Adams

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Tennessee forward Grant Williams, left, battles for a rebound against Georgia's Derek Ogbeide during an SEC tournament game on March 9, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

When Tennessee fans want to feel better about their men’s basketball program, they look at the roster, not the record.

A 16-16 record and a one-and-done SEC tournament doesn’t say much for how much headway Rick Barnes has made in his second season as coach. The roster is more encouraging.

This was mainly a freshman-sophomore team, which will return eight players who started at least one game. So you don’t need Dick Vitale to tell you the Vols should be markedly improved next season.

However, you can’t assume a rocket-like rise through the SEC standings.

Lack of height still could be an issue for Tennessee. But conference competition should be an even bigger factor in trying to predict UT’s progress.

Putting five teams in the NCAA tournament speaks to the league’s improvement. And the conference should be even better next season.

The Vols don’t have the youth market cornered. It’s a young league, starting with conference champion Kentucky, which is forever young.

Five observations on Tennessee basketball heading into the offseason

No March Madness for Tennessee basketball

Never mind what players the Wildcats send off to the NBA. There’s a new class of future pros waiting in the wings as evidenced by the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

Five-star recruits are nothing unusual for coach John Calipari. But Alabama signing the No. 5-ranked recruiting class isn’t business as usual.

Moreover, most of Alabama’s top players - headed up by freshman power forward Braden Key - will be returning from a team that entered the NIT on Tuesday with a 19-14 record. The returnees will include six of the top seven scorers and the top three rebounders.

Florida, the regular-season runner-up to Kentucky, will lose Canyon Barry and veteran point guard Kasey Hill but will return two of its top three scorers in KeVaughn Allen and Devin Robinson as well as leading rebounder John Egbunu.

Also, Florida will add a couple of four-star recruits, including forward Isaiah Stokes, the brother of former Vol Jarnell Stokes. Former Virginia Tech starting point guard Jalen Hudson, who sat out this season as a transfer, should help solidify Florida’s next backcourt.

Kentucky, Alabama and Florida all finished ahead of the Vols. None of them will be easy to overtake next season.

Texas A&M, which tied Tennessee at 8-10 in the conference, should be better next season. The Aggies will add three four-star recruits to a team that will return its top five scorers.

Don’t forget about Vanderbilt, either. Although the Commodores will lose center Luke Kornett, they will return three double-figure scorers.

Vanderbilt forward Jeff Roberson (11) shoots over Tennessee guard Josh Richardson (1) and guard Robert Hubbs III (3) during the first half in the 2015 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena Thursday March 12, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn.

Two teams that finished behind the Vols, Mississippi State and Auburn, both should be much improved.

The Bulldogs will return four of their top five scorers from a team that had nine freshmen and will add two four-star recruits. Auburn, which under-achieved this season, will return enough talent to make the NCAA tournament.

Maybe the Vols can make it, too. But they will have to play their way through a tougher league to get there.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnadamsKNS.

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