The Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team entered the off-season on April 5, 2025, following a 30-8 season that ended with a familiar refrain: an Elite Eight loss. Falling 69-50 to Houston in the NCAA Tournament’s regional final on March 30, the Vols notched their third Elite Eight appearance under head coach Rick Barnes but once again fell short of the Final Four. As spring unfolds, Tennessee is at a crossroads, tasked with addressing offensive shortcomings and leveraging a strong returning core to push deeper in 2026.
The 2024-25 season was a triumph by most measures. Tennessee secured a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, won the SEC regular-season title with a 16-2 record, and posted 30 victories—the second-most in program history. Guard Chaz Lanier, a transfer from North Florida, emerged as a star, averaging 18.2 points per game and breaking Chris Lofton’s single-season 3-point record with 112 makes. Zakai Zeigler, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, anchored the backcourt with 5.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while Jahmai Mashack’s versatility (9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) solidified the wing. The Vols’ defense ranked top-five nationally, allowing just 62.4 points per game.
Yet, the Houston loss exposed persistent flaws. Tennessee shot a dismal 15-for-49 (30.6%) from the field, including 4-for-18 from beyond the arc, as Houston’s physicality disrupted their rhythm. Lanier, hounded by double-teams, managed only 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting, while Zeigler’s 2-for-9 effort underscored a lack of secondary scoring. The frontcourt, led by Jonas Aidoo’s departure to the NBA, struggled to create inside, with freshman Cameron Carr (6.4 points) unable to match the Cougars’ size. Barnes acknowledged the issue postgame: “We’ve got to find ways to score when the 3s aren’t falling.”
Spring 2025 is about recalibration. Zeigler and Mashack return as seniors, providing leadership and continuity. Lanier, who has one year of eligibility left, faces a decision: return to Knoxville or test the NBA Draft waters after a breakout junior season. His 42.3% 3-point shooting and clutch performances—like a 28-point outburst against Kentucky—make him a projected second-round pick, but another year could elevate his stock. Carr, at 6-foot-7, offers upside as a stretch-four, but his 215-pound frame needs bulking to handle SEC bigs.
The transfer portal is a priority. Tennessee’s staff is targeting Maryland’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie, an East Tennessee native who averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 assists in 2024-25. His quickness and playmaking could complement Zeigler, easing the offensive burden. Up front, the Vols are linked to Illinois’ Morez Johnson Jr., a 6-foot-9 forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, whose rebounding (8.2 per game) and rim protection could replace Aidoo’s presence. Both players visited Knoxville in late March, with decisions looming.
Recruiting also looms large. Tennessee’s 2025 class, ranked No. 12 by 247Sports, features four-star guard Darius Adams (6-foot-2, No. 34 nationally), whose scoring versatility (18.6 points per game in high school) could bolster the backcourt. Spring workouts will integrate Adams and fellow signee Dewayne Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward with raw athleticism, into Barnes’ system.
The schedule offers no respite. Tennessee’s 2025-26 non-conference slate includes a Maui Invitational field with UConn, Gonzaga, and Arizona, plus a home tilt against Purdue. SEC play brings rematches with Houston (now an SEC member) and perennial foes Kentucky and Arkansas. To compete, the Vols must diversify their attack—relying less on Lanier’s 3s and more on transition scoring and paint production.
Tennessee’s off-season mission is clear: turn Elite Eight heartbreak into Final Four fuel. Barnes, in his 11th year, has built a consistent winner—six straight NCAA appearances, three SEC titles—but the ultimate prize eludes him. With Zeigler’s tenacity, Lanier’s potential return, and strategic additions, the Vols have the pieces. Execution is the next step.
