The Tennessee Volunteers’ Drawbacks During the 2024 Season

The 2024 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team has been one of the most exciting and competitive programs in the country under head coach Rick Barnes. Tennessee entered the season with high expectations, ranked among the top teams in the nation, thanks to a blend of experienced players, strong recruiting, and a well-established defensive identity. The Vols have been one of the most consistent teams in the SEC and nationally, building a reputation for hard-nosed defense, efficient offense, and strong team chemistry.

However, despite their many successes, there have been certain drawbacks and areas of inconsistency that have affected Tennessee’s performance throughout the 2024 season. These challenges have impacted their ability to meet their potential, especially when they’ve faced tough competition. While Tennessee has shown flashes of brilliance, they have also faced key struggles that have raised questions about their championship aspirations.

This article will explore some of the biggest drawbacks for Tennessee this season, analyzing areas where they need to improve in order to maximize their chances of success in the postseason and secure a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

1. Offensive Inconsistencies

While Tennessee has long been known for its defensive prowess, one of the major drawbacks for the Volunteers during the 2024 season has been their offensive inconsistencies. Despite boasting talented players, including Zakai Zeigler, Josiah-Jordan James, and Oweh, the team has often struggled to score efficiently in critical moments. This has been particularly apparent in tight games against elite competition.

The issue is not a lack of talent — players like Zeigler have proven to be effective playmakers capable of running the offense and generating scoring opportunities. However, Tennessee has often looked disjointed offensively, relying too heavily on individual efforts rather than fluid ball movement and team-based scoring. For a team that excels at locking down opponents defensively, their offense has sometimes failed to match the energy and intensity they show on defense.

The lack of a consistent scoring leader has been a noticeable drawback. While Oweh’s 21-point outburst against South Carolina was a positive sign, it remains a rarity in a team that often lacks someone capable of taking over games offensively. James has shown flashes of scoring brilliance, but he can also be prone to cold stretches, particularly in crucial matchups. The team’s reliance on defense to fuel its offense is a double-edged sword: while it works when the defense is elite, it leaves them vulnerable when their offense falters.

Tennessee’s inability to consistently execute in half-court settings or to convert in transition has made them susceptible to teams that can lock down defensively or outshoot them from the perimeter. Against top-tier opponents like Kentucky, Alabama, and Kansas, Tennessee has sometimes struggled to match up offensively when the game turns into a high-scoring affair. This is a major drawback, as it limits their ability to keep up in shootouts or when games get into an up-tempo style that’s outside of their comfort zone.

2. Lack of Offensive Floor Spacing

Another drawback for Tennessee this season has been their lack of offensive floor spacing. In the modern game, spacing is critical to creating open looks, driving lanes, and allowing for easier ball movement. Tennessee, despite having a solid roster with capable shooters, has not always been able to create the kind of spacing that allows their offensive system to function smoothly.

The team’s spacing issues can be traced to their personnel, particularly in the frontcourt. Players like Oweh, Uroš Plavšić, and Jonas Aidoo bring size, rebounding, and defense, but they often lack the outside shooting ability that would force defenders to respect the perimeter. As a result, opponents can clog the paint and neutralize Tennessee’s inside game, forcing the Vols to rely more on contested mid-range shots or difficult finishes at the rim. This limits Tennessee’s ability to stretch defenses and generate open looks for their shooters, particularly Zeigler and James.

Additionally, Tennessee’s inability to consistently space the floor has hurt their ability to run effective pick-and-roll sets and ball movement-oriented offenses. Opposing teams have been able to collapse in the paint, effectively neutralizing the Vols’ offensive execution. When Tennessee struggles to hit shots from the perimeter, opposing defenses can suffocate their ball movement and make it difficult for the Vols to create open opportunities.

As Tennessee’s success often relies on breaking down defenses through quick ball movement and cutting, their inability to space the floor and create open passing lanes hampers their offensive flow. In order to truly challenge the elite teams in the NCAA Tournament and SEC, Tennessee will need to find a way to balance their interior game with a more dynamic and space-oriented offensive system that forces defenses to respect all areas of the floor.

3. Rebounding Issues Against Taller Teams

Although Tennessee has been solid on the boards for much of the season, they have faced challenges when it comes to rebounding against taller teams. Players like Oscar Tshiebwe from Kentucky and Zach Edey from Purdue, two of the most dominant big men in college basketball, have given the Vols fits inside. Their height and physicality have been tough to overcome, and Tennessee has sometimes been outmuscled and out-rebounded in key games.

Tennessee’s frontcourt, while talented, lacks the sheer size and strength of some of the other powerhouse teams in the country. While Plavšić and Aidoo provide solid contributions, they have been inconsistent in terms of securing key rebounds, especially on the offensive glass. Against larger teams, Tennessee has struggled to match up in terms of rebounding, leading to second-chance opportunities for opponents and limiting their ability to control the tempo of the game.

The Vols have also struggled to secure defensive rebounds at times, which has led to opponents getting extra possessions. When a team is unable to finish defensive possessions with a rebound, it puts additional pressure on their defense and often leads to fatigue, particularly against high-scoring teams that generate fast breaks off of missed rebounds.

For Tennessee to truly contend for a National Championship, addressing their rebounding deficiencies will be critical. While they have had success in the paint, especially on defense, they cannot afford to let teams dominate them on the boards and provide themselves with multiple scoring opportunities. Tennessee needs to be more aggressive and physical in their rebounding efforts to ensure they can control the flow of games and limit opponents’ second-chance points.

4. Struggles in Late-Game Situations

A recurring issue for the Volunteers has been their struggles in late-game situations. Whether it’s a lack of offensive execution in the final minutes, difficulties making free throws, or a failure to finish strong when the game is on the line, Tennessee has had moments where they’ve faltered in crucial stretches. These struggles were particularly apparent in their losses to Alabama and Kentucky, where the Vols were unable to execute down the stretch and let close games slip away.

Late-game execution is an essential skill for any team hoping to make a deep run in March, and Tennessee has yet to prove it can consistently deliver in pressure-packed moments. In some instances, Tennessee’s lack of a go-to scorer in clutch moments has hurt them. When games are tight in the final minutes, teams often rely on a player who can create their own shot and deliver in big moments. Tennessee has had difficulty identifying that player on a consistent basis. While Zeigler and James have had their moments, neither has proven to be fully reliable in clutch situations. Without a clear alpha in those moments, Tennessee has often appeared disjointed on offense when the game is on the line.

Additionally, Tennessee has struggled with free-throw shooting at times, which is a critical factor in tight games. In close contests, being able to convert from the charity stripe can make the difference between a win and a loss, and Tennessee has not always been able to make those free throws when it matters most. Plavšić, in particular, has struggled with his free-throw shooting, which has led to frustration during late-game scenarios.

For Tennessee to truly reach its potential, it will need to find more reliable ways to execute in the final minutes, whether through improved individual playmaking, better ball movement, or more consistent free-throw shooting. These late-game situations will be especially important when the stakes are higher in the NCAA Tournament.

 Looking Ahead to March Madness

Despite their drawbacks during the 2024 season, the Tennessee Volunteers remain a talented and dangerous team. Their elite defense, combined with solid leadership and depth, has made them a top contender in the SEC and a legitimate force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament. However, the issues mentioned—offensive inconsistency, lack of floor spacing, rebounding struggles, and late-game execution—are areas that they will need to address in order to take the next step.

As the Vols continue to prepare for the postseason, they will need to tighten up these areas of weakness in order to maximize their chances of making a deep run. With Rick Barnes’ coaching acumen, a team full of talent, and the experience gained through tough SEC battles, Tennessee has the tools to overcome these drawbacks. If they can make the necessary adjustments, the Volunteers have the potential to compete with anyone in the country, with a National Championship within reach. However, fixing these flaws will be critical as they look to fulfill their aspirations in the months ahead.