The Tennessee basketball season opened with its first preseason practice just over one week ago.
On Thursday, the Vols’ practice was open to the media for the first time this year as part of the team’s 2018 media day.
“It’s exciting, I can’t wait,” redshirt sophomore guard Jalen Johnson said. “I think right now everybody is just waiting for the season to start and for us to start playing games and scrimmages.”
Here are some takeaways from Thursday’s interviews and practice:
Seniors relish their last media day
Four Tennessee basketball players attended their final media day on Thursday.
Seniors Admiral Schofield, Kyle Alexander, Lucas Campbell and Brad Woodson are entering their last season in college.
“It had to come to end eventually,” Alexander said. “I am just glad that we are in the position that we are in going into my last year. I am blessed to be able to be here and have all of these opportunities that I have had.”
Woodson described Thursday as “another day in the office,” but the emotions of a final season are there as well.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s your last until next spring after the tournament,” Campbell said. “It will be weird. Right now it doesn’t feel like it will be over soon.”
Barnes continues to preach hard work
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes is known for grueling practices and bringing the best out in his players.
Those themes were evident at Thursday’s practice, as Barnes sent players on sprints up-and-down the court on numerous occasions.
“We want to foster that competition every day,” Barnes said. “We try to improve our competition every single day at every position…we want them to fight for it.”
His players understand that they must work hard in the preseason if they want to excel in the postseason.
“They work us pretty hard,” D.J. Burns said. “We do a lot of conditioning, but a lot of basketball too. They are pushing us to where we need to be to win games.”
Barnes points to Schofield as an example of a hard-worker for the other players. Assistant coach Rob Lanier said the coaching staff worries that Schofield might work too hard.
Barnes echoed that sentiment.
“It’s in his DNA, he just works, works, works,” Barnes said. “Did he slow down a little bit? He did, but that’s really where he lives, in Pratt Pavilion, that’s where he stays. But he really is mature to the point where he knows he has to take care of his body.”
Bowden and Alexander making adjustments
As Kyle Alexander heads into his final season, he is juggling the task at hand and the potential to play professional basketball.
His head coach believes there are still things Alexander can work on.
“I think Kyle Alexander has really improved since he has been here,” Barnes said. “But I think he could be so much better.”
Last season, Alexander only shot one three-pointer the entire season. It was a crucial make in overtime against Purdue in the season-opening tournament.
Now, he says he has made strides to improve that part of his game during the offseason.
“My perimeter shooting is something that I have worked on a lot this summer,” Alexander said. “So I hope that I am able to showcase that this year.”
Another player who Barnes has challenged during the offseason is junior guard Jordan Bowden.
“There’s no question we need Jorden Bowden to play the point if need be,” Barnes said.
During his practice time at the point guard position, Bowden said the other point guards have helped show him the ropes.
“(Jordan) Bone and Lamonte (Turner) have been helping me out with that,” Bowden said. “It’s not easy. Coach Barnes is hard on us, but that’s what I want. I want to get better.”
Burns transitioning to college basketball
The Vols only have one scholarship freshman on the team this season.
D.J. Burns, who was originally a member of the 2019 class, re-classified to the 2018 class and graduated from York Preparatory Academy one year early.
“It’s been a pretty good transition,” Burns said. “It was a lot of work getting to where I wanted to be, to where I could keep up and play at their pace. At first it was tough, and it still is…but it has become a little bit easier to where I can keep up more.”
Burns now faces competition like Kyle Alexander and Derrick Walker in practice. According to Burns, those players are only helping him improve.
“It’s a big step up,” Burns said. “They challenge me every day to work hard. Nothing is going to come easy to me, and they make sure of it.”
What’s next
Tennessee hosts the Rocky Top Tip-Off on Oct. 19 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Last season, fans saw a three-point shootout and a dunk contest.
Jalen Johnson said he competes in dunk contests with his teammates occasionally after practice.
“Sometimes, not all the time,” Johnson said. “Sometimes we have to go up and show what we got with a little friendly competition.”
He said a winner has not been decided.
“You gotta wait till the Rocky Top Tip-Off for that one,” Johnson said.
The Vols open the season with an exhibition game against Tusculum at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7:00 p.m. on the SEC Network +.
