When Tennessee point guard C.J. Watson advances up court this season, he will not only hold the basketball, but quite possibly Tennessee’s hopes for success, as well.

For a quick indication of how important Watson is to the Volunteers, one need look no further than UT’s list of experienced returners.

It doesn’t take long.

With only one player (Brandon Crump) having more than a season’s worth of experience for the Vols, Watson finds himself in the strange position of being a sophomore who has logged the second-most career minutes on his team.

UT coach Buzz Peterson said Watson’s importance is clear.

“We need C.J.’s leadership this season,” Peterson said. “He obviously proved himself last season, but mentally he’s got adjust to being a leader.”

As a freshman, the Las Vegas native started 28 of 29 names, led the SEC in minutes played (35.8 mpg) and earned conference All-Freshman team honors.

But even Watson admits the playing time wore him down.

“It did get harder late in the year,” Watson said. “But it just made me work that much harder in the offseason to get in shape.”

Instead of just hitting the weight room, Watson hit the road.

The sophomore spent the offseason playing for the 12-man USA Junior team at the World Championships in Greece and helped lead the squad to a gold medal at the Global Games in Dallas.

Watson said the experience was invaluable.

“You really shape your game being around players of that caliber,” Watson said. “You learn a lot.”

The Vols hope so.

With UT moving to a more uptempo style of play, the Volunteers will need consistency from their young floor general.

In the preseason, all signs pointed to Watson handling the pace well. Against EA Sports, Watson finished with six assists and only one turnover in the Vols’ fast-paced offense.

Watson did have four turnovers in Tennessee’s second exhibition game, but Peterson said he has plenty of faith in Watson to run the system.

“You could run him all day long,” Peterson said. “Him and (transfer) Jemere (Hendrix). You can’t gauge those two because they can just run and run and run.”

After Tennessee scored 110 and 114 points in its home exhibition games, it’s likely Watson will have to do just that.

But keeping the pace and leading this group of young Vols doesn’t bother Watson.

He said that while he may bring the ball up the floor, it’s still the big man’s team.

“This is Brandon’s team,” Watson said. “But I know that I’m going to have to lead by example, too. We’re young, but we’re going to be a pretty good team.

“Coach Peterson reminds me of that.”

If the younger Vols development quickly, Watson thinks competing in the NCAA Tournament shouldn’t be out of reach.

“That’s our goal because we got so close last year,” Watson said. “It will take a lot of work on our part, but I think we should get there.”

Until those the new group of Vols gel, most of that work will fall on Watson. But work is something he’s use to.

“If it does fall on my shoulders I’ll be ready,” he said. “I think last season prepared me for that. Now it’s just time to pull it all together.”