Bold predictions for Tennessee basketball's 2020-21 season

Rick Barnes is rolling into a season with a ranked Tennessee basketball team for the third time in the past four years.

Barnes and the No. 17 Vols open the season against UT Martin on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

Here are five bold predictions for Tennessee's season:

Tennessee will set the program record for 3-point attempts

The Vols launched 46 3-pointers in their exhibition against Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 30. Barnes offered a revealing comment afterward: Tennessee took at least 40 3-pointers in two intrasquad scrimmages and its scrimmage against Davidson.

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The UT record for 3-pointers in a season is 896, set in 2006-07. Assuming Tennessee plays two games in the SEC Tournament and reaches the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, the Vols would have to average 24.9 3-point attempts per game to break the record.

It's a wild change from Barnes' offense in previous seasons, but one the Vols coach seems to welcome. Tennessee's season-high in 3-point attempts in the 2020-21 season was 28.

Kennedy Chandler will match a Grant Williams feat

Grant Williams scored 30 points twice in his freshman season at UT in 2016-17. He had exactly 30 against Lipscomb on Dec. 15, 2016 and against Georgia on Feb. 11, 2017.

Kennedy Chandler will also accomplish the feat. He can score at all three levels, which gives him an array of ways to get to 30 points. The five-star recruit flashed his ability to get to the rim against Lenoir-Rhyne, but also was 4-for-5 from 3-point range.

Expect some high-scoring outings from the freshman guard, including multiple 30-point outings.

Josiah-Jordan James will earn All-SEC honors

Forward John Fulkerson, a super senior, was picked by the SEC coaches as a preseason All-SEC choice. Chandler could play his way into that mix as well.

Junior Josiah-Jordan James, though, has a strong a case as any Vol for all-conference honors. He enters the season as UT's most versatile defender. He led the Vols in rebounding with 6.5 per game as a sophomore, up from 5.5 as a freshman. He averaged 8.0 points per game last season, a total that likely would have been higher if not for a wrist injury against Kansas on Jan. 30. His 3-point shooting was much improved prior to the injury as well.

If James stays healthy, it's easy to envision him averaging double-digit points and leading the Vols in rebounding again. That could make him worthy of postseason honors.

Tennessee will reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament

The Vols had a disappointing end to last season, falling in a blowout loss to Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

This Tennessee team won't fall in the same manner. UT will advance out of the first weekend and into the second for the second time under Barnes.

The reasons why are many, but simply come back to these few above the rest: The Vols have a roster better built from one to five, they have more depth than any of the past three teams and will be able to beat teams with offense and defense.

Ten Vols will average at least 8 minutes per game

Tennessee arguably has more depth than any team Barnes has had with one exception: the 2017-18 SEC title team.

But the 2021-22 Vols should compete with that group for overall depth and could also have 10 players averaging at least 8.0 minutes per game.

Chandler, Fulkerson, James and guard Santiago Vescovi are seemingly locks to get at least 20 minutes per game. Guards Victor Bailey Jr. and Justin Powell should be in that range as well.

Forwards Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Olivier Nkamhoua should play upward of 15 minutes per game. Guard Jahmai Mashack could contribute double-digit minutes, giving UT nine players with at least 10.

Either guard Zakai Zeigler or forward Uros Plavsic would push UT to 10 with at least 8 minutes per game if either gains a consistent role. Zeigler is likely to have a role as a backup point guard.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Bold predictions for Tennessee basketball's 2020-21 season