As the calendar year comes to a close, the Tennessee Volunteers find themselves in a position of strength, poised to continue their march through the SEC. With Rick Barnes at the helm, the Vols have shown brilliance, going undefeated so far into the season. But there’s one challenge that could determine whether Tennessee sustains its momentum or stumbles in the grind of SEC play. That challenge?

Three-point shooting. As Barnes and his squad head into 2024, their dominance on both ends of the floor is clear. Yet, the game of basketball requires constant adaptation. And for Tennessee, their three-point shooting—or lack thereof—could be the difference between SEC supremacy and a missed opportunity.

In a special New Year’s episode of Field of 68: After Dark, basketball analysts John Fanta, Jeff Goodman, and John Henson sat down to discuss what SEC teams need to work on heading into the new year. When the conversation turned to Tennessee, Henson was quick to highlight a major flaw in their game. “They’re gonna beat 90% of the teams,” Henson began, “but if I had to say something, it would be more three-point consistency. It’s three-point shooting.”

Indeed, Tennessee has been dominant this season, but their success has been built on defense, physicality, and efficient scoring. However, their perimeter shooting has not been a consistent threat. Henson pointed out that while the Vols have two players, Lanier and Gainey, shooting over 40% from three, the rest of the team has struggled. Even big man Igor Milicic Jr., who was expected to make the shots finds himself with 25% — his career low.

“Lanier and Gainey are bringing up records, and you start hearing the name Chris Lofton after what they’re doing,” Henson continued. “But everyone else on the team is shooting under 30%.”

For a team with the aspirations of Tennessee, three-point shooting is not just an afterthought—it’s a necessity. Henson warned that the lack of perimeter consistency could ultimately be their downfall.

Tennessee’s 3-point struggles: Barnes’ key challenge for SEC supremacy in the new year

“Someone is going to crack the code to beat them,” he said. “And sometime in the college basketball season, when the code is cracked, the season comes undone.”

Tennessee’s defense and scoring margin are both among the best in the country. They currently rank second in scoring margin with a 24-point average and first in the AP Week 8 poll. Despite these strengths, the Vols’ three-point shooting remains a glaring weakness.

The team ranks 75th nationally in three-point percentage according to ncaa.com, with only 36.5% of their 293 attempts hitting the mark.

Barnes knows that the SEC is unforgiving, and Tennessee will face challenges from top-tier teams like Auburn, who currently ranks just above them in the NCAA Men’s Basketball NET Rankings. With such competition, Tennessee can’t afford to be one-dimensional. Barnes has the defense, the scoring, and the leadership—now he just needs to get his players comfortable and consistent from beyond the arc.