University of Tennessee Athletics
2002-03 Tennessee Basketball Outlook
August 02, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 2, 2002
Perimeter Players | Post Players
Now, with one season under his belt as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, Buzz Peterson is faced with putting an inexperienced team on the court.
Tennessee has only two players on its roster that have more than 32 games of playing experience entering the 2002-03 campaign. However, the Vols return two starters and two more who saw significant starting experience last season. Add to that a bevy of young players who played key roles in 2002 along with a crop of newcomers who figure to contend for major playing time this year and the future looks bright for Peterson's Volunteers.
"The biggest thing that excites me is that this is the second year," said Peterson, who is 120-66 in six overall seasons as a head coach. "Having been through the league as the head coach at the University of Tennessee for a year, now I know what to expect in some ways so I have a better feel for what's in front of me."
Seniors Ron Slay and Jon Higgins, who are the only players on the UT roster with more than 32 games of experience under their belts, should provide Peterson with plenty of leadership on the court. Slay, a preseason All-SEC candidate, has averaged 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in his 80 game career. Higgins, a three-year starter in the Tennessee backcourt, has made 156 career three-pointers in a 97 game career that includes 95 starting assignments.
Peterson's first campaign at Tennessee was a learning experience. Hitting the ground running when he took the head job in April, Peterson and his coaching staff signed a top 10 recruiting class in the early signing period and then dove head first into a schedule that ranked as the sixth-toughest in the nation. The Vols posted a 15-16 overall record and finished fourth in the SEC's Eastern Division.
"When you get the job and you're running and you're running and then all of a sudden here's the season and then you go right through it," Peterson said. "Things just happen so quick. I'm looking forward to this year. We were prepared before but now we know what is laying in front of us."
"I think it is really important to get that first year under your belt. Its like I tell our freshmen, I say, `You'll gain so much confidence from your freshman to your sophomore season than any year, you'll take the biggest stride.' Now that's behind us."
Getting that first season of experience isn't just beneficial for the coaches. Tennessee's players now have a year of experience with Peterson and know what to expect from him and his coaching staff.
"We all know what to expect," Peterson said. "I know what to expect and the players know what to expect from me. It is just another year of maturity that really helps, I am a big believer in that. We were all kind of wide-eyed in going through things for the first time last year while trying to lay a foundation down. I think this year we all know what to expect."
The Vols have been able to begin preparing early for the 2002-03 season. Although the coaches weren't able to work with the players over the summer, almost everyone spent the summer in Knoxville getting a head start on classes, lifting weights and scrimmaging against each other.
"Even though as a coaching staff we can't do much with them, they can be with (strength and conditioning coach) Roderick Moore and working with the weights," Peterson said. "The strength part is the biggest thing and then when they are playing pickup ball, they have each other to play against. That's always going to help them. They know the drills that are going to make them a better ball player and they have a gym and everything here to work on them."
Having a pair of leaders who have been a part of the program for three years helped make the summer a time of development for the Vols. Higgins and Slay helped coordinate the scrimmages and established themselves in leadership roles.
"Jon and Ron were really big over the summer in getting everyone to play pickup ball and being good leaders," Peterson said. "I think it's important to have everyone here during the summer time, I think that is a key to success during the season."
Having players who have been through it before lead the team has been beneficial so far. Higgins has started for three seasons in the backcourt while Slay established himself as one of the best sixth men in the nation before stepping into a starting role as a junior.
"Ron just has a natural tendency to be a leader anyway," Peterson said. "Higgins has been here and knows what it takes so he is going to step up and be a leader also. Those two, I always like the seniors to be leaders, but particularly those two who are here for their fourth season. They know what it takes and I expect them to be leaders and making the rest of the team do the right thing when the coaches aren't there or just working to make this team a better ball club."
Tennessee is faced with the losses of seniors Vincent Yarbrough, a first team all-SEC wing and one of the top 10 scorers in school history, Jenis Grindstaff, a gritty guard who took over point guard duties the second half of the season, and Del Baker, a wing who provided a defensive stopper for the Vols on the perimeter. Additionally, the Vols lost second team all-SEC forward Marcus Haislip to the NBA Draft. Haislip, who was a lottery pick of the Milwaukee Bucks, had a breakout season at power forward by averaging 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds.
"Losing Vincent and Marcus were big losses," Peterson said. "Plus losing Jenis and Del and the roles they played were big. A lot of scoring came from Vincent and Marcus, especially when Ron went down with the injury. We are hoping that Ron will pick it up from when he got hurt and Jon Higgins can give us a little bit more. I think a big key will also be Brandon Crump. His play towards the end of the year got better. He got more physical and just stepped it up more. Now, what he needs to do is to step into that next role of being one of the top two or three scorers and one of the top two or three rebounders in every game. Elgrace Wilborn will give us more stability in the post. He was a freshman last year and now he needs to step it up some."
This year's recruiting class, which consists of four perimeter players and a center, should help after losing Yarbrough, Haislip, Grindstaff and Baker.
"What this class gives us is that it fills our needs so much," Peterson said. "It gives us help at the perimeter spot and a post player. We didn't know Marcus Haislip was going pro so that throws us off a little bit."
"This class has the same thing that our coaching staff wants, which is to come in and get a good education and get a your degree while also playing basketball. If we can, hopefully things go well and they can play at the next level. If not, then they've got their degree and they're set for a good career in the profession they want. They have all those same goals that we have as a coaching staff."
"We are excited about this class but we also know that this class is going to be depended on a lot this season. There are going to be some trying times for them and that's why as a coaching staff we are going to stay with them."
With the personnel changes on the court, the Vols will sport a different look from a year ago. Last year Tennessee had the strong frontline of Yarbrough, Haislip and Slay. This year, UT's strength will lie in the backcourt with Higgins, Holden and newcomers C.J. Watson, John Winchester and Stanley Asumnu.
"You've got to have both (frontcourt and backcourt depth) but last year we didn't have the depth at guard that we needs," Peterson said. "This year we should have plenty. The big thing is that I would say our practices will be more competitive because for one we have better numbers but the competition is going to pickup a lot, especially on the perimeter."
Although the strength of the Vols may be on the perimeter, that doesn't mean that Tennessee is going to be weak in the paint. With the return of Slay and Brandon Crump, who showed signs down the stretch last year of becoming a dominant post player, along with Elgrace Wilborn, Andy Ikeakor and Boomer Herndon.
"I have always thought Ron is one of the better post players in the league, and Crump is on his way to becoming one of the better ones" Peterson said. "Elgrace needs to bloom into one. Boomer Herndon is going to be thrown into the fire so to speak. Andy Ikeakor is going to have to step up and give us some quality minutes. We've got five solid guys there but three of them really need to prove that they can make us one of the better teams in this league.
Veteran players like Higgins and Slay coupled with experienced players like Thaydeus Holden and Crump will be a key to this young team. Many of the younger players will be called upon to play significant roles on the team early in the season as the Vols prepare for the treacherous Southeastern Conference schedule.
"In addition to the five newcomers there are also some guys who haven't played a whole lot of minutes," Peterson said. "It is important to get some good wins early in the season and they learn from those. It may take bad experience here and there to wake them up but it is going to be a challenge for them. We need a very good November and December to boost them in conference play."
Last year the Southeastern Conference was the No. 1 league in the RPI and placed 75 percent of its teams in postseason play. Six SEC teams received invitations to play in the NCAA Tournament and three more participated in the National Invitation Tournament, including runner-up South Carolina. SEC play will begin on January 8 when the Vols host the Kentucky Wildcats in Thompson-Boling Arena.
"The SEC East, I don't know if you can find a tougher division that what we are in," Peterson said. "It is incredible on our side. The league was number one in the RPI last year and that speaks volumes in itself. I think you've got in this league next year five teams that could be potentially top 10."
"We are going to have one of the younger ball clubs in this league. Hopefully the early part of the season we can get some wins and get our young guys some confidence that will help them in the league play."
Tennessee's greatest depth comes in the backcourt. However, with that depth comes a significant amount of inexperience.
The Vols return two players with starting experience in the backcourt but, only one started all season last year. Jon Higgins has started 95 of UT's 97 games since arriving on campus prior to the 1999-2000 season. Last year Thaydeus Holden, a junior college transfer, drew 17 starting assignments. The remainder of Tennessee's backcourt consists of three true freshmen who will be counted on significantly this year.
"The backcourt is going to have some youth to it," Peterson said. "Higgins is someone who gives us maturity after starting for three years. He is someone we can rely upon heavily this year to hit that game winning shot or make that defensive stop, Jon will be the guy to do it.
"Thaydeus has a year under his belt. He's somebody you can put in because you know he's going to give a lot of intensity every night.
| "C.J. will get thrown into the fire. He knows that and that is something we have talked about since he first got here in May. There are going to be some times that it may be frustrating for him but that is part of being a freshman." |
| Buzz Peterson on freshman point guard C.J. Watson |
"Stribling oozes of potential. He is 6-6 with long arms and can really attack the glass on the dribble and be a defensive stopper. Hopefully he'll make a big change from his freshman to sophomore year.
"Now you add in Winchester, Watson, Asumnu and with those guys, its a matter of how fast they adapt and pick things up. They come from good high school backgrounds and had good high school careers. The quicker they learn and pick things up the faster they are going help this ball club. That's why I am glad that they got here at the end of May to spend time here with us."
Higgins, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard, has established himself as one of the best three-point shooters in the Southeastern Conference. The Shaker Heights, Ohio, native ranks among UT's all-time top 10 in three-pointers made, attempted and percentage. A natural two guard who has filled in at the point at times, Higgins will be counted on for his leadership in the inexperienced backcourt.
"Jon's leadership is so important to us," Peterson said. "When we need a three-pointer to win a game or just need a bucket period, he's got to be in that role for us. The biggest thing I really want from him is when there is five seconds left and we have to have a bucket then its Higgins from the perimeter is going to do that. He's our guy and he wants that role. I want him to be a consistent weapon for us."
Holden, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds his first season at Tennessee. The Silsbee, Texas, native earned 17 starting assignments in 31 games at the two guard position. A solid shooter from three-point range, it was on the defensive end of the court that Holden made his name.
"Thaydeus takes a lot of pride in his defense," Peterson said. "He's low to the floor, he's strong and quick and that gives him a lot of advantages. I like to call him a bulldog in there. He can get some good defensive stops, he can wear you down."
Derek Stribling, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing player, established himself as one of the better defensive players on the squad as a true freshman last season. Often times drawing one of the toughest defensive assignments on the perimeter, Stribling averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.9 minutes of action.
"Derek's defense is ahead of his offense, but he knows that," Peterson said. "Last year he didn't look for his shot but this year we need him to be more of a threat on the offensive end. He's worked on the offensive end since the end of last season. If anybody can get to the rack and make things happen from the perimeter, he can do it. We really want him to be able hit a three and hit that mid-range shot while also being able to attack the glass and play a role that if it means rebounding, then he can do it. This is a pivotal year for him. He needs to step it up and have a good year for us."
C.J. Watson, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound point guard, comes to Tennessee after an outstanding high school career at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev., where he was the two-time state player of the year and earned Parade All-America honors as a senior. The freshman, who came to Tennessee in May to begin taking classes during the summer session, will need all of the experience he can get as he will likely be called upon to carry much of the point guard duties this season.
"C.J. will get thrown into the fire," Peterson said. "He knows that and that is something we have talked about since he first got here in May. That's why it's so important that he was here on campus early and getting comfortable with his settings. There are going to be some times that it may be frustrating for him but that is part of being a freshman. When you're going into the best league in the country, that's going to happen. There's also going to be some times that we'll say, `Wow, that's a talented freshman out there.' He's just going to get better and better each year."
"The thing I love about him is his maturity level as a young man and his desire to succeed and just overall. His parents have done a great job of raising him. To me that is so important for a point guard in that role, he needs to be a leader. It's like in football a quarterback, and on defense a linebacker, that point guard needs to step up and be a leader one day. Its hard for him this first year with a couple of guys who have been through it for three seasons, he doesn't want to step on any toes. He is a very mature young man for his age."
Another true freshman who will see plenty of action in the Tennessee backcourt this season is John Winchester, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound versatile two guard from Stamford, Conn. A Parade All-America, he averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals at Milford Academy last season.
"John is a very savvy player," Peterson said. "He knows the ins and the outs of the game. Like C.J., he's going to be thrown into the fire. He is going to find some things to work on and he is going to learn some things and get frustrated from time to time.
"John is the type of young man who loves the game and loves to play, just a gym rat. Once he gets stronger and adapts to everything, he is going to have a tremendous career."
Stanley Asumnu, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard/forward will join Watson and Winchester in the youthful Tennessee backcourt. One of the Top 10 prep school players in the nation last year at Hargrave Military Academy, Asumnu averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in leading the Tigers to a 25-3 record.
"Stanley is fairly raw," Peterson said. "There are a lot of things that he is going to pick up and learn there. But, the one thing Stanley has is a big tremendous heart. He has a big heart, which I like. He has a lot of desire. Stanley is a young man who loves the game. He comes in here as a freshman, but he is just a little bit younger than Vincent Yarbrough was stepping off the floor. He comes in here with some age that I really like. Here's a young man who is another role model citizen who wants to do things right. Another gym rat who wants to become a better ball player and is a team player. He is going to get better and better because he is still learning a lot of things at the wing position."
Last season the Vol roster sported one of most formidable frontcourts in the nation with Vincent Yarbrough, Marcus Haislip and Ron Slay dominating the paint. The trio combined to score more than half of Tennessee's points, despite Haislip and Slay missing significant parts of the season.
Gone from that intimidating frontline are both Yarbrough and Haislip. Yarbrough, a first team all-SEC pick last year after ranking second in the league with 18.1 points, was a second round NBA draft pick of the Denver Nuggets over the summer. Haislip, a second team all-SEC selection after averaging 16.7 points and ranking second in the league with 44 blocks, was a lottery pick (13th overall) by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Slay, however, returns as one of the top post players in the Southeastern Conference. The 6-foot-8 senior forward averaged 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season as a starter after being considered one of the top sixth men in the nation his first two years in Knoxville.
| "He had some really good games down the stretch of the season at Florida and against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament.. He did some great things there. During the season he got better and better and better which, to me, is a very good sign." |
| Buzz Peterson on sophomore foward Brandon Crump |
"First of all, we need his leadership, especially with these younger kids," Peterson said. "Two, he needs to be somebody in there that, dadgum, if we need a bucket, gotta have a bucket in the post or anywhere on the floor, he can get that for us. This is his senior year and he is one of the better players in this conference. We need him to step up and show that. He's very capable of doing that."
The Nashville native suffered through an injury riddled season. After being slowed at the start of the campaign with a stress fracture to his fibula before the season, Slay missed the Vols' final 15 games when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Syracuse on Jan. 19.
Having a healthy Slay back in the lineup will be an important component for the Vols to be successful this season.
"Last year this league had Erwin Dudley, Mario Austin, Udonis Haslem and Slay, those are four guys who had some big wide hips and could really bury people on angles and pin them under the goal," Peterson said. "You need that, especially after 30 minutes into a ball game. The guys defending them begin to wear down. Those guys are important, that's why we need Ron, that's why we need that leg strong.
"He is a big key for us. I'm glad we have him. I am sure there are a lot of coaches around the country who wish they had a Ron Slay on their team because you know he's going to have everybody ready to go before the game and he is going to give you all he's got that day."
Joining Slay in the Tennessee frontcourt is the up-and-coming sophomore Brandon Crump. As a redshirt freshman last season, the 6-foot-10 forward started 19 of his 30 games, averaging 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. The Houston, Texas, native continued to improve as the season went on.
"He had some really good games down the stretch of the season at Florida and against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament," Peterson said. "I look at Arkansas and he really won that game for us. He did some great things there. During the season he got better and better and better which, to me, is a very good sign. Knowing the young man and how disciplined he is in his life, you're seeing a good trait going here."
"He's got a lot of potential. Those games against Florida and Arkansas, he's got to have about 20 of those games next year. He's going to be a force for us. He's got to go from a role player, being a fifth or sixth player in scoring, to being one of the top two or three scorers."
Elgrace Wilborn, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound power forward, averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks off the bench as a true freshman last year. Wilborn, who owns a 36-inch vertical leap, showed signs of what he could do early in the season with a 20- point, 12-rebound effort in an exhibition game. During the regular season he had a season-high 12 rebounds against Appalachian State while reaching double-figure scoring two times.
"Elgrace needs to step it up and give us that level of play where he has been through it before," Peterson said. "He is the best athlete on the team. We really need him to go in there and play a lot of minutes, bang around, block some shots. One of the things we've really tried to work on with Elgrace is to be able to step out on the secondary break and hit the 12 to 15 foot jump shot."
Andy Ikeakor, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound power forward, is also in position to help Tennessee's thin frontline. The junior, who has seen limited action in his first two seasons as he has battled various injuries, has shown that he can contribute to the Vols in the paint.
"Andy could really help this ball club out," Peterson said. "What I mean by that is with his size and hips, I keep talking about hips but you really need that when you're banging around. He's not going to score a lot of points but he can get a lot of putbacks and he can push some people around in there and be a good force for us in the paint."
One of four seniors on the squad is Zach Turner, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound power forward. Turner, who will be looked to for his leadership on this young squad, joined the Vols as a walk-on and has been a solid contributor to the team both in practice and in games.
"Zach is someone who we can also count on in a leadership role," Peterson said. "He knows what it takes to work hard and push on the floor. Zach can give us some good quality minutes in there. He's done a tremendous job for us. Hopefully he can help push our players and make them better players and make us a better team."
One of two newcomers in Tennessee's frontcourt is junior college transfer Justin Albrecht, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound junior. A second team all-region selection at Iowa Western Community College last season, Albrecht has earned a reputation as a hard-nosed, blue collar type player. Last season he averaged 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Reviers. As a freshman he drew 44 charges.
"Justin's one of those guys that if there is a loose ball on the floor then he is going to be down there going after it," Peterson said. "Hopefully he can give us a weapon from outside but can also get in there and bang around a little bit at the three spot. He can give us some more of that toughness that we need. He does the little things that go unnoticed. He's a blue collar worker and that's what I like so much about him.
"Boomer" Herndon, a 7-foot, 240-pound center from Nashville, joins Albrecht as newcomers in the Vol frontcourt. The freshman, who is Tennessee's first seven-footer since Steve Hamer in the mid-1990s, was an all-state selection while averaging 26.7 points at Donelson Christian Academy in his final year as a prep.
"What I like about Boomer is his height and size," Peterson said. "He spent the summer in Knoxville this year and that is going to help him. He is going to learn a lot this year. I told him, just like I told Brandon Crump last year, he's got to get tough in there.
You've got to get physical in there. We are going to have to play him as he is learning. He's got a bright future ahead of him because of his desire to do well. We are going to have to let him get in there and learn by experience."
