2024-25 Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Predictions and Odds to Win the National Championship

by Ryan Cobbett - 10/25/2024

Tennessee Volunteers basketball predictions Zakai Ziegler

At one point in the regular season last year, the Tennessee Volunteers found themselves just one game over .500 as they started the year 4-3. Those three losses came at the hands of #1 Kansas, #2 Purdue, #17 UNC. After that, they didn’t look back and finished with a 24-7 regular season record. Tennessee dominated in conference play as well, going 14-4 against Southeastern Conference opponents. Unfortunately, the Vols had a hiccup in their opening game in the conference tournament, as they were completely dominated by Mississippi State -- the Bulldogs beat them by 17. However, that blowout loss didn’t get in the way of Tennessee making a deep run in their following tournament. They were given the 2-Seed in the Midwest region, where they clobbered their first-round opponent in the 15-Seed Saint Peter’s Peacocks, beating them by 34 points. They followed that up with wins over 7-Seed Texas and 3-Seed Creighton, reaching the Elite 8. Their season ended there, as they lost to the eventual runners-up in Purdue.

Tennessee ranked fifth in the conference in scoring, averaging 78.8 PPG while ranking third in the conference with 16.7 APG as a team. The strength of this team was their suffocating defense. They held opponents to just 67.4 PPG on just 38.9% shooting, which was the fifth lowest mark in the nation. Dalton Knecht was the go-to option for Tennessee, as he averaged 21.7 PPG while shooting 39.7% from deep. He was complimented by the play of Zakai Zeigler (11.8 PPG) and Jonas Aidoo (11.4 PPG). Zeigler led this Vols squad with 6.1 APG as well as with 1.7 SPG. Aidoo led the way with 7.3 RPG while maintaining a highly efficient 51.5% FG%.

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Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Key Additions/Losses

After an incredible run to the Elite 8, the Volunteers lost to Purdue, ending their season. With that end, they lost a lot of talent. The biggest loss is obvious as their leading scorer is no longer with the team. Knecht has moved on to the NBA, but he is not the only loss this Vols roster took. Josiah-Jordan James (29.2 MPG) and Santiago Vescovi (25.3 MPG) ran out of eligibility. In addition to those three, Jonas Aidoo (11.4 PPG) transferred to the conference rival Arkansas Razorbacks, while Tobe Awaka (Arizona), DJ Jefferson (Longwood), and Freddie Dilione V (Penn State) also left the program.

That is a lot of lost talent from last year’s Elite 8 squad, but the Vols were aggressive this offseason and have filled some of the gaps that were left in the roster. They brought in guard Chaz Lanier, who is a grad transfer from North Florida. He was incredible last season and averaged 19.7 PPG while shooting 44% from deep. Lanier will step into the big shoes left by Knecht and will work in tandem with Zakai Ziegler to form one of the best backcourt duos in the country. Joining Lanier is Darlinstone Dubar, who will provide scoring off the bench, as he averaged 17.8 PPG for Hofstra last season. Dubar shot 39.9% from deep last season and averaged 6.8 RPG. Igor Milicic Jr. averaged 12.8 PPG at Charlotte last season and will replace Aidoo’s spot in the starting five. To round out the 14th ranked transfer class is defensive minded forward Felix Okpara, who averaged 2.4 BPG last season at Ohio State. Tennessee also brought in one recruit as they signed four-star guard Bishop Boswell who is ranked 96th nationally.

Tennessee Volunteers Basketball X-Factors

Away Schedule- It’s not secret how tough the Southeastern Conference schedule is for all its members, as it is one of the deepest conferences in the nation. Tennessee plays 10 AP Top 25 teams, with six of them coming on the road. They also see Illinois, Miami and Virginia during their nonconference schedule. The Vols did go 8-3 on the road last season, and they will certainly need to repeat that success if they hope to defend their regular season conference crown.

SEC Openers- The nonconference schedule is light, and Tennessee should get through it with one or no losses. However, they will get thrown right into the fire when conference play starts, as they open the New Year with three straight games against ranked conference teams in #16 Arkansas and then back-to-back road games against #21 Florida and #19 Texas. We should get a realistic look of just how good this team is going to be after all the losses from last year’s team.

Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Notable Games

Home- #16 Arkansas, #23 Kentucky, #21 Florida, #2 Alabama

Away/Neutral- #21 Florida, #19 Texas, #11 Auburn, #23 Kentucky, #13 Texas A&M, #24 Ole Miss

Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Key Odds:

NCAA Champion: +4000

Final Four: +950

Conference Winner: +380

Wooden Award: Chaz Lanier- +9500

Wooden Award: Zakai Zeigler- +17000

AP Top 25- 12th

Andy Katz’s Power 37- 12th

KenPom- 13th

Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Predictions

Zeigler and Lanier form one of the nations best backcourt duos, but neither are capable of replacing what was lost with Knecht’s departure. Lanier is a proven scorer, but he spent his entire career at North Florida, up until now. We do not how well his play will translate against some of the best teams in the country. The Vols do have depth and are going to have their chance to make another run in both tournaments at the end of the year. However, they will struggle when they get to their tough conference schedule and should see an ugly fall from grace. I am staying away from the Vols this season.

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Start:	December 25, 2024 @ 10:30 PM
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2024-25 Tennessee Volunteers Basketball Predictions and Odds to Win the National Championship

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