Tennessee Basketball Report: Barnes and players talk team

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With just more than two weeks remaining until it makes its trek across the Atlantic Ocean for a 10-day exhibition tour of Spain and France, the Tennessee basketball team continues preparations for the trip, during which the Volunteers will play three games.

The tour, coordinated through Anthony Travel, takes place Aug. 2-12 and includes stops in Barcelona, Valencia and Paris.

Head coach Rick Barnes and his staff put the Vols through their second full practice in as many days Tuesday. It was the sixth of the team’s 10 full-squad summer practices that are permissible, per the NCAA, for teams making international trips.

More than 15 media members, including representatives from three television stations, were on hand Tuesday to interview Barnes and select players before getting their first glimpse of the squad in a structured setting.

Barnes was asked about how this summer’s trip may benefit the team come fall.

“I don’t think there’s any question that this fall we’re going to have the best practices we’ve ever had (since I’ve been at Tennessee),” Barnes said. “We’re going to have a full roster of guys who are competitive, who work hard and have done everything we’ve asked them to do.

“I told a couple of them that for the first time in their lives, they’re really going to have to compete for minutes. I believe our team is going to be a very competitive group of guys, and they’re going to have to earn every minute they get.”

Before the preseason grind hits full throttle, however, the Vols are focused on preparing for an international experience that will be new and eye-opening for several members of the team.

“Some of these guys have never been out of the country,” Barnes said. “So I think (this trip) will be a great, educational opportunity for them. In terms of the chemistry with our guys, it’s as good as it’s ever been. This trip can take that a step further. I just think they’re excited about going to a new country and seeing different things, so I’m excited for them.”

THE TRAINING ROOM

As reported last month, a handful of players—including James Daniel III (ankle), John Fulkerson (shoulder) and Lamonté Turner (shoulder)—continue to rehab from various injuries.

Turner has returned to nearly full activity in recent workouts and is expected to be available to play in Europe. Daniel’s playing status for next month’s trip has yet top be determined. Fulkerson will not be available to play in Europe; it’s anticipated that he will return to action around the start of the playing season late in the fall.

A pair of perimeter underclassmen underwent procedures in the last week and will be inactive for next month’s international trip. Rising sophomore wing Jordan Bowden had an arthroscopic procedure to address torn cartilage in this left knee and will rehab for the remainder of the summer. He is expected to return to full activity by early fall.

Most recently, on Tuesday, redshirt freshman Jalen Johnson underwent a procedure to address a chronic stress fracture in his left shin. No timetable has been set for his return, and he will not be active when the team travels to Europe.

NOTEWORTHY

The Vols are still awaiting the highly anticipated arrival of incoming freshman wing Yves Pons from France. The program is hopeful that the international paperwork and procedures delaying Pons’ move to the United States will be cleared up in short order and that he will arrive in Knoxville before the team departs on Aug. 2. If that does not happen, he is expected to join the team in Europe.
Strength & conditioning coach Garrett Medenwald reported Tuesday that he has been pleased with the progress true freshman forward Derrick Walker has made in reshaping his frame. Walker weighed in at 255 during his official recruiting visit in January. Walker is now down to 237 pounds with a significant reduction in body-fat percentage.
Tennessee’s three opponents in Europe are the Catalan All-Stars (Aug. 4), the Valencia All-Stars (Aug. 7) and the Paris All-Stars (Aug. 10). All three teams include professional players from those areas.
Barnes told reporters Tuesday that he will experiment with different lineups each game in Europe and that he will likely allow associate head coach Rob Lanier and assistant coaches Desmond Oliver and Michael Schwartz to take turns coaching the team.
Tennessee has been practicing with official, FIBA-approved Molten GL7X basketballs, which is what the team will play with during its three exhibition games in Europe. The two-toned, international Molten ball is slicker than the Nike Elite ball that the Vols typically practice with and use during home games at Thompson-Boling arena.
The Vols may not need a translator during the first eight days of their trip, as rising sophomore forward Grant Williams told reporters Tuesday that he is minoring in Spanish and has studied the language for the past five years.
Next month’s European tour marks the fifth international summer trip for veteran athletic trainer Chad Newman. Entering his 22nd season with the Tennessee basketball program, Newman has previously accompanied the Vols to France/Italy/Switzerland in 1997, the Dominican Republic in 2003, Czech Republic/Bratislava/Austria in 2007 and Italy/San Marino in 2012.