Tennessee Preview Capsule

Oct 29, 2015 - 4:08 PM Tennessee Preview Capsule

Eds: With BC-BKC--Tennessee-Preview

By The Associated Press=

Tennessee

Last season: 16-16, didn't take part in the postseason.

Nickname: Volunteers

Coach: Rick Barnes

Conference: Southeastern

Key returners: Kevin Punter, a natural shooting guard, will be playing point guard at least part of the time this season after averaging 10.3 points per game last year. Armani Moore, who also averaged 10.3 points per game last year as an undersized power forward, will share ball-handling responsibilities with Punter.

Who left: Josh Richardson averaged a team-high 16 points per game and earned first-team all-SEC honors last season. He started 110 games in his Tennessee career and was drafted in the second round by the Miami Heat.

The skinny: Barnes is Tennessee's third coach in as many seasons and arrives with an impressive track record that includes 19 NCAA Tournament invitations in his last 20 seasons. Barnes has been careful to say this team isn't rebuilding and is aiming for an NCAA bid, but he faces a tough test. Tennessee lacks proven size and a pure point guard.