Newcomer Dalton Knecht, a fifth-year, 6-foot-6 senior guard, was the leading scorer in the Big Sky Conference last season while averaging 20.2 points per game for Northern Colorado.

-- Photo By Jerry Denham |The Ledger

The ceiling for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team escalated much higher once Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James announced they were returning for a fifth season of college basketball.

The veteran backcourt duo bypassed the chance to begin their professional careers for another chance to lift the Vols to unprecedented heights.

“The biggest thing was being around a group of guys who I felt like were on the same page as me and wanted to come back and do something that’s never been done at Tennessee,” James says. “We have a roster that can do that.”

There are only a few accomplishments left on the program’s wish list. The Vols have never reached a Final Four. The closest they came was a trip to the Elite Eight in 2010.

But with a deep and experienced squad, the potential for making a run this season is a realistic goal.

The Vols opened the regular season with an 80-42 victory against Tennessee Tech Monday night at Food City Center. They travel to play Wisconsin Friday at 8 p.m. (Peacock) and host Wofford Nov. 14 before heading to Hawaii to play in the Maui Invitational.

Excitement is once again high around the Vols. They sold out their full allotment of 14,500 season tickets at the Food City Center after averaging 18,781 fans per game last season, a figure that ranked fifth nationally.

The Vols, who were picked to win the SEC by the media and coaches, were ranked No. 9 in The Associated Press preseason poll and No. 10 in the USA Today coaches poll.

It’s the fifth time in program history that Tennessee started the season in the top 10 of both polls and a program-record fourth straight season the Vols have started in the AP top 20.

The Vols finished 25-11 (11-7 SEC) last season and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

James, Vescovi and junior guard Zakai Zeigler give the Vols a solid returning nucleus in the backcourt. Zeigler is working his way back from an ACL injury that sidelined him for the end of last season.

Veterans bolster newcomers

The unit is bolstered by the addition of two transfers who have made an instant impact.

Fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht spent the last two seasons at the University of Northern Colorado, where he led the Big Sky Conference in scoring (20.2) last season and ranked sixth in rebounding (7.2).

Junior guard Jordan Gainey, the son of UT associate head coach Justin Gainey, transferred from USC Upstate, where he started 58 games and averaged 14.6 points.

“The fact is that we have more depth on the perimeter than we have had since we have been here,” UT head coach Rick Barnes says. “Up to this point, we have shown that we can shoot the ball, but I just know that we have a long way to go defensively. The fact is that these guys have proven to us that they want to work, and they want to be good.”

The value of Vescovi and James goes beyond their statistics this season. They are helping nurture the younger Vols, which include freshmen Freddie Dilione V, Cade Phillips, Cameron Carr, J.P. Estrella and D.J. Jefferson.

“I told both of those guys when we talked about them coming back, it was leadership,” Barnes says. “We had a lot of new guys in the program and I told them ‘Personally, coaching staff wise, we are not going to judge you because you guys have worked.’ … I said, ‘You are going to be judged this year more so than ever on your leadership and what you are going to do to help these guys.’”

The Vols ended last season ranked first in Division I in 3-point defense (.265), third in scoring defense (57.9 ppg) and third in field-goal defense (.373). Barnes expects that to remain the program’s calling card regardless of what happens on the other end of the floor.

“It is getting the younger guys to understand the urgency of how hard it is to play defense and play the way we want to play,” Barnes says. “Those guys have been great mentors for the young guys, but we do have four, five, six new guys that are out there at a time. We are trying to get them to understand what it is going to take to win at this level.”

Respect outside the SEC

The Vols created some buzz in late October when they played Michigan State in a charity exhibition in East Lansing, Michigan. Despite playing without Vescovi and Zeigler, Tennessee beat the Spartans 89-88. Knecht scored 28 points and Jordan Gainey had 20.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, a veteran coach with plenty of NCAA experience, joked afterward about putting some pressure on his good friend Barnes. “That is a Final Four team,” Izzo says. “I really believe that. I really do.”

“Tennessee is a team that is going to beat a lot of people,” Izzo added. “They have a team that has a legitimate shot because they have enough depth and they have enough different (lineups). They put Josiah at the three some and went really big. They can go really big. They can go small and put him at the four. I think when you can do that it is always healthy in the tournament when you run into different styles and different teams.”

Vescovi is happy James decided to make one last run on Rocky Top. Although their decisions were separate, their connection is something they both value.

“Josiah is one of my brothers. I know he’s going to be my brother forever,” Vescovi says. “We have a couple of other guys that are with us now that have been with us throughout the whole process. Coming back with Josiah is something that I really enjoy. He’s a guy that I love, he’s my brother and we understand each other on the court and off the court.”

Over the last six seasons, Tennessee leads all SEC programs in total victories (144), winning percentage (.716) and postseason wins (15). During that span, the Vols have captured a pair of SEC championships, winning the regular-season title in 2018 and the tournament crown in 2022.

But a Final Four appearance and national title remain elusive.

If the Vols can finally end the skid this season, it will be an enduring part of Vescovi’s legacy and make his return even more memorable.

“I really love the program. I love Knoxville, and the people here are great. The support from everyone has been amazing,” Vescovi says. “I feel like I’m at home here in Knoxville, and I love being around here. I love the team and everything about it.”