2011-2012 Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Preview

SEC Sports Fan has the rebuilding (new coach, new players, etc) UT Vols slipping to 10th place in the SEC this season (sorry Volunteer fans). You can read more about why at our 2011-2012 Southeastern Conference Basketball Predictions and Preview.

Use the links on the schedule below to buy your Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Tickets.

The Tennessee Volunteers are probably the most difficult team to place in the entire SEC; they could be put anywhere from number 3 to number 9, depending on how the rest of the SEC shakes out, as well as how their young players respond to adversity. They certainly have the talent to compete in the SEC East, but will they have a coach to do it with? And for that matter, will they have anything to play for if the NCAA bans them from the post season?

Bruce Pearl has done an excellent job in building up the basketball program to elite stature, something that has been difficult to do at a place like Knoxville, where football is a way of life. However, the recent allegations, along with the investigation that the NCAA is conducting into the program, look to cause a major shakeup for the Volunteers.

Honestly, after hearing Bruce Pearl admit to making some serious mistakes in regards to the program, it is difficult to believe that Tennessee will, in fact, allow him to stay on as the head coach of their program. One has to think that something bad is coming, with the coaches already implementing penalties on themselves. And if they do get rid of him, I don't think anyone has any idea who the head coach would be. It is almost too late to lure a high profile coach in at this point, and if most of the allegations hold up, the NCAA could potentially cripple the program to the point where no coach would want to go there for the next few years.

With all of the negatives aside, this is an extremely talented basketball team. The team is built around young players, but it is deep and, without all the problems that the program is going through, would normally have been my dark horse pick to win the entire SEC. Instead, I fell like they will challenge for one of the last few spots of the NCAA Tournament and it will come down to whether or not they came together as a team and stole a win from a team like Florida or Kentucky. If these players can put all of the distractions aside and just play their game, they could still play the role of dark horse as well.

One player that I would pick to watch out for would be Jerrone Maymon, a transfer student from Marquette. He has the experience and the talent to step up and be the leader that this team desperately lacks after the losses of Chism and Prince. Tobias Harris is another incoming recruit that I believe can have a tremendous impact on this program. If these guys can step up to the plate, they may just lead their team to a great season.

Thanks to Tennessee Volunteers Basketball and utsports.com for all photos on this page. All rights are reserved.

Get your tickets at 2010 March Madness Tickets.

For more about the Lady Vols championship and analysis of the importance of the their latest (2008) NCAA Championship in helping make SEC basketball #1, check out Best College Basketball Conference.

For more on SEC fan attendance, check out Top SEC Basketball Fan Attendance School.

If you haven't read it yet, check out our Bruce Pearl Biography and Bruce Pearl Axed at Tennessee. Read about the Vols new b-ball coach Cuonzo Martin Biography. You can read more about 2007-2008 Tennessee Vols men's basketball team at 2007-2008 Tennessee Vols Men's Basketball Team. Other Tennessee Volunteers Men's Basketball pages include: Tennessee Volunteers Basketball History and University of Tennessee -- Knoxville -- Trip.

The NCAA hammered Bruce Pearl, but let Tennessee off the hook. Was that the right thing to do? I think so Bruce Pearl NCAA Sanctions.

Read all about Why Smokey is the Vols Mascot and Why Tennessee picked Orange and White as its color?

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If you are looking for our 2009-2010 Tennessee Volunteers Basketball page, check out 2009-2010 Tennessee Volunteers Basketball.

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