A rumor that always felt like it never really had legs this offseason was that Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner was going to make the trip east and play for Rick Barnes in Knoxville. We saw Rick Barnes poach Jaylen Carey last year, and it never felt like it was going to happen, but it also didn’t feel totally unrealistic given the way Barnes had been so aggressive in recruiting the portal. But at ther end of the day, it was just social media rumors and Vols fans realized it was a long shot if it was even true.
Rick Barnes just gave Tennessee fans another big-time game to circle on the calendar
Tennessee landed guards Juke Harris, Dai Dai Ames, Terrance Hill, and Tyler Lundblade while also retaining Troy Henderson. It never seemed like it could happen, but according to Tanner, Vols fans still thought he was going to Knoxville even after the portal closed.
In an interview with The Tennessean and Gentry Estes, Tanner had an interesting take. He said:
"People even after the portal had closed were like, 'Nah, he's coming to Tennessee,’” Tanner said. “I'm like, 'I'm not coming to Tennessee.' It was wild.”
NEW: Tyler Tanner talks NBA, returning to Vanderbilt and those silly transfer portal rumors:
“People even after the portal had closed were like, 'Nah, he's coming to Tennessee.' I'm like, 'I'm not coming to Tennessee.’ It was wild.”https://t.co/jZEHSbZ8a6
Like every rumor that happens on X, people look at it and wonder whether it’s reliable or even possible, and that’s where the Tanner talk stems from. Realistically, once the portal closed, nobody thought he could come back anywhere, let alone to Tennessee. But according to Tanner, he was hearing from everyone that he was coming to Tennessee. It’s definitely an odd situation.
And not to mention, of course, the Vanderbilt player wants people to think that Tennessee was pursuing him so hard. This is classic “we beat out our rivals for me, I never wanted to go there” type of coping from Tanner. First of all, where would he even play on this roster? Tennessee is already stacked with guards and ball handlers. If he were a center, it would actually be believable.
I’m not saying Tanner is a bad player, because he’s actually very good, but come on. Tennessee doesn’t have the NIL or the roster space to make that worth it for both sides. By the end of April, the Vols’ roster was already set, and they had more than enough players to fill the role Tanner would have had. Sorry, but I’m not buying this at all.
Sure, it would have been nice to add him, but it would have had to happen right away. Tennessee landed Ames and Lundblade early in the portal cycle, and Terence Hill Jr. didn’t take too long either. Tanner averaged just under 20 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He’s a very good player, but he’s not a guy Barnes would just drop everything to go get. Harris averaged more points than Tanner last year and has more versatility.
I’m also not even sure where these rumors started or how they gained so much traction. It doesn’t really make sense, but whatever. Tennessee has its roster set and will have a very good team next season, competing for a Final Four.
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