Chaz Lanier, a fifth-year, 6-foot-5 guard from Nashville’s Ensworth School, averaged 19.7 points last season during his senior year at North Florida.
-- Tennessee Athletics/Utsports.ComDefensive intensity and leadership at the guard position will not be a problem for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team this season as the Vols have two of the best in the country returning to their backcourt.
Seniors Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack will be setting the tone for Tennessee as the Vols begin their quest to defend their SEC regular-season title. No. 12 Tennessee opens the season Nov. 4 against Gardner-Webb in Food City Center.
Coming off one of the best seasons in program history – Tennessee reached the NCAA Elite Eight and finish No. 5 in the polls – the Vols are replacing four starters. Chief among them is super scorer Dalton Knecht, who is now lining up alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Knecht earned SEC Player of the Year honors in his lone season at UT.
Tennessee dipped into the transfer portal again to add four more transfers. Senior guard Chaz Lanier, Nashville Ensworth grad, averaged 19.7 points and 4.8 rebounds at North Florida last season. Darlinstone Dubar transferred from Hofstra. Helping provide size in the interior, 6-foot-11 center Felix Okpara transferred from Ohio State, and 6-10 Igor Milcic arrived from Charlotte.
“I definitely feel like I can help a lot,” says Lanier, who shot 51% from the field and 44% from behind the 3-point line. “I think I can bring a lot of scoring to the team and a very lively spirit, a good, uplifting spirit. I just get after it on both ends of the floor and I like to compete.”
Stepping into new roles
Coach Rick Barnes is depending on senior guard Jahmai Mashack to set the tone on defense.
UT head coach Rick Barnes requires every player to “get after it on both ends of the floor,” and has Zeigler and Mashack to set examples.
Zeigler is the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 11.8 points and 6.1 assists per game last season while running the point.
“He’s one of the most unselfish human beings I’ve ever been around in my life. There’s not a coach in the country that would not want to coach him and be around him every day,” says Barnes, entering his 10th season at Tennessee. “He’s one of the most consistent people I’ve ever been around. I never worry about him coming to practice or what kind of effort or attitude he’s going to bring. I don’t care if it’s in June, July or August. Whatever it is, he’s going to bring his maximum effort.”
Although he’s always felt like a leader from his positional standpoint, Zeigler says more will be required from him and Mashack this season with Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James having graduated.
“It’s been different because for all of my years, I had Josiah and Santi. Those guys were a huge part of the program, a huge part of the team and just a huge part of knowing what Coach Barnes wants and what he doesn’t like,” Zeigler says. “So, them not being here and stepping into that role was a huge difference. But we’re up for the challenge and I’m glad we’re the ones stepping into those roles now.”
Reaching the century mark
Zakai Zeigler was last season’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s one of the most unselfish human beings I’ve ever been around in my life,” coach Rick Barnes says.
Mashack has been an energizer and defensive stopper since arriving at UT. He averaged 17.9 minutes per game last season and will play his 100th game in a UT uniform when he makes his season debut.
“I’ve never thought Jahmai really gets the recognition he deserves for defense,” Barnes says. “I think most people look at blocked shots and steals and think that’s what makes good defensive players. Obviously, it’s a part of it, but it’s not the major thing. What Jahmai does guarding the ball and what he does to bring our defense together, along with Zakai, is incredible.
“I think that Jahmai is a great example of a guy that when we talk about being a star in your role, he understands that. He embraces it. I’m not sure there’s a better defensive player in terms of what he does to impact the game. It’s special.”
Mashack isn’t trying to put too much added pressure on his shoulders because of his veteran status and additional leadership responsibilities this season.
“We just have to go out and do what we practice, what we’ve been doing for the last three years, with Zakai and I being here,” he says. “We’re going into this last year just making sure that we’re putting all (our energy) in the same place and helping the team come out with a win every night.”
Under Barnes, Tennessee has the most total wins by an SEC team since the start of the 2017-18 season with 71. The Vols have made six straight NCAA appearances and won three SEC championships (two regular-season titles and one tournament title). How far they will go this season remains to be seen, but Barnes believes they have the right ingredients in place to make another run.
“We are excited about this group. They’ve worked hard, they like each other and that’s always a good thing,” Barnes says. “And it’s just a matter of, I always say it and I’ll say it forever, we just got to get better every day.”