Basketball Vols want Turner back
“I think it’s valuable because it’s something we worked on in the offseason just for this situation. That’s paid off, but we need Lamonte back. Not only for what he does offensively, but defensively to maintain the kind of pressure we would like to maintain throughout the game.” – TENNESSEE COACH RICK BARNES ON USING DIFFERENT PLAYERS TO FACILITATE THE OFFENSE IN THE ABSENCE OF LAMONTE TURNER
KNOXVILLE — The preparation of the Tennessee men’s basketball coaches has paid off in the short term.
An injury to guard Lamonte Turner has stripped the team of one of its top guards, as the 6-foot-1 junior averaged over 10 points and two assists per game last season and was the Southeastern Conference’s sixth man of the year. The injury has forced coach Rick Barnes to be more creative with his rotations, with starting shooting guard Jordan Bowden sliding over to play the point some when starter Jordan Bone needs a rest.
Forward Grant Williams and the versatile Admiral Schofield also have helped facilitate the offense at times while Turner is recovering from an ankle injury.
“I think it’s valuable because it’s something we worked on in the offseason just for this situation,” Barnes said at his Monday news conference. “That’s paid off, but we need Lamonte back. Not only for what he does offensively, but defensively to maintain the kind of pressure we would like to maintain throughout the game.”
Bowden has maintained his scoring average (10.5 points while shooting 60 percent from 3-point range) but also has averaged five assists in the Volunteers’ two games, wins over Lenoir-Rhyne and Louisiana.
The challenges start to get tougher tonight, as the fifthranked Vols host Georgia Tech (1-0) at 9 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Games loom next week against Louisville and either Kansas or Marquette in the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and Tennessee has December dates against Gonzaga in Phoenix and at Memphis.
Turner was going to be evaluated at Monday’s practice. His absence would mean the team would go again with only two scholarship guards on the roster in Bone and Bowden.
Pons buying in
Barnes said Monday that he’s been pleased with the development of sophomore Yves Pons, the athletically gifted 6-6 forward who was nicknamed “Air France” on a recent telecast. At his size, Pons has been able to defend opposing teams’ point guards with his length and quickness, while also making a number of highlight plays, including dunks and blocked shots.
After playing only 5.2 minutes per game and scoring 17 points in 24 appearances last season, Pons is averaging 5.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and a pair of blocks in the early part of this season.
“It’s his intensity,” Barnes said. “The fact that he’s buying into a role we want him to play, and that’s really affecting the game in areas a lot of guys don’t want to do in terms of bringing energy, defending at a very high level, rebounding the ball, blocking shots, the dirty work. You talk about it with a lot of players, and some will, some won’t embrace it like he is doing.”