Editor’s Note: The Insider is a recurring entertainment feature built around publicly available information, informed analysis and educated speculation. It does not claim access to confidential sources inside the Tennessee basketball program, nor should any predictions be interpreted as factual reporting of non-public information.
Here’s one that has not made its way outside the building yet: DeWayne Brown II may have the inside track to start at center.
Most projected lineups have Miles Rubin in that spot. That makes sense. Rubin arrives with 237 career blocks, three productive seasons behind him and a reputation as one of the better rim protectors in college basketball.
My sources tell me, however, that Brown has made this a real fight—and may lead it by a nose right now.
This is not about Rubin disappointing anybody. Tennessee likes what it has there. The surprise is how far Brown has come since last season ended.
One person close to the program tells me Brown looks different physically, is playing with much more confidence and has become one of the louder voices during workouts. With 11 newcomers learning how Tennessee does things, Barnes has taken notice of the guy who already knows where everyone should be.
Barnes offered a little public hint when he said Brown is “going to have a great year just because of his work ethic.” From what I’m hearing privately, that was not empty summer praise for a returning player.
The lineup getting the most attention inside the gym is Terrence Hill Jr., Tyler Lundblade, Juke Harris, Jalen Haralson and Brown. Lundblade’s back is the obvious qualifier, but my information remains that Tennessee expects him to be ready.
That would leave Dai Dai Ames as the first scoring guard off the bench and Rubin as the first big. Both could still play starter minutes, and Rubin may finish plenty of games when Tennessee needs his length around the rim.
Brown’s case is pretty simple. He already understands what Barnes wants defensively, he can handle the physical work inside and the staff trusts him to communicate with a group that has barely played together.
Nobody has promised Brown anything. Rubin can still win the job once full preseason practices begin, and I would not call the competition settled in August.
Jalen Washington would add another layer if Tennessee closes that recruitment. Even then, he would arrive late and have plenty to learn before Barnes trusts him with the opening assignment.
The information I keep getting is consistent: this competition is much tighter than the public projections suggest. More than one person believes Brown would be the starter if Tennessee played this week.
There is still plenty of time for that to change.
I don’t believe it will.
The Insider’s prediction: DeWayne Brown II starts at center against Wofford, with Miles Rubin coming off the bench.
– The Insider