As the starting lineup was rattled off over the Thompson-Boling Arena loudspeaker, a noteworthy omission existed.

Most predicted that all four of Tennessee’s returning scholarship players would crack the opening day five in exhibition No 1.

Josh Richardson? Here.

Derek Reese? Here.

Robert Hubbs? Here.

Armani Moore? … Armani Moore?

In an, 80-62, win over Pikeville Nov. 3, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior couldn’t push his way into the starting lineup. Five days later, much of the same occurred as Moore came off the bench in the Volunteers’, 77-49, victory over Lenoir-Rhyne.

The justification was simple.

“I never really feel comfortable starting a guy like Armani Moore who has missed four to five to six practices over the last couple of weeks,” head coach Donnie Tyndall said on Nov. 3. “I think at some point he will get that (starting) position back maybe sooner than later.”

“I had a little back spasm, but I’m getting it under control. I feel good, and I should be working my way back up to the top,” Moore added.

Consider that prophecy a reality.

After pouring in a combined 21 points and 14 rebounds in the two exhibition contests, Moore indeed crept back into the starting lineup for UT’s regular-season opener against No. 15 VCU.

Despite averaging just 3.1 points per game last season, flashes of Moore’s offensive capabilities have shown through early on. Albeit against lesser competition, the junior forward chimed in with a team-high 17 points against Pikeville — his first double-digit scoring performance since putting up 11 in an exhibition win over Victory University on Nov. 5, 2012.

“This is perfect system for him,” Richardson said on Nov. 3. “He’s a mismatch at power forward. Just like he showed, he can take bigger guys off the dribble anytime he wants to.”

Like Richardson, Moore has been tasked with transforming his game in 2014 — shifting from a defensive workaholic into a legitimate SEC scoring threat.

Moore’s trademark— emphatic, out-of-nowhere blocks that often send the basketball bounding into the second or third row of fans — will certainly still be around. But with nine new players on UT’s current roster, the Vols will consistently lean on one of their veterans for a slew of offensive stability.

“I think so,” Reese said when asked if Moore is ready for more offensive-heavy assignments. “He accepted the role. He needed to step up and really be aggressive, be more aggressive than last year or the last two years.”

Although Moore’s 2014 debut in the starting lineup was a pedestrian one — he had just eight points and seven rebounds, while shooting only 29 percent (2-of-7) from the free-throw line — Tyndall is confident his junior forward will rebound sooner rather than later.

Even if it means dishing out some harsh criticism along the way.

“I don’t think many of these guys ever hear too many negative things in their life period,” Tyndall said Monday, “so when you’re honest with them and you tell them the real deal — or keep it real with them as they say — sometimes it hurts their feelings a little bit. But the truth is the truth. I told them I’ve got to do a better job of coaching, and I believe that.

“And they’ve got to be better as players in some areas as well.”