Tennessee basketball got back from its Elite Eight loss in Chicago and immediately got to work building next season’s roster. Belmont sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade began a visit to Tennessee on Monday and committed to the Vols on Wednesday afternoon.
Lundblade started his career as a walk-on at SMU before working his way to TCU and finally Belmont. Last season at Belmont, Lundblade averaged 15.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists on his way to earning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors.
What is Tennessee getting in Lundblade and how will they use him? Taking a look here.
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What Are Lundblade’s Strengths?
Shooting, shooting and shooting. Lundblade is not only one of the best three-point shooters in the portal but one of the best shooters in the country period. His 112 made three-pointers ranked seventh nationally and he did it while shooting 41% from three-point range and at the top of opposing teams scouting reports.
Lundblade’s shooting prowess is also illustrated by his free throw shooting. He doesn’t get to the line much but ranked second nationally among qualified players by shooting 93% from the charity stripe.
Simply put, Lundblade is a good offensive player. His 127.8 offensive rating last season would have edged out J.P. Estrella for the best on Tennessee’s roster. Lundblade ranked 122nd nationally with a 59.7 estimated field goal percentage and 71st nationally with a 64 true shooting percentage.
Lundblade played over 34 minutes a game for Belmont last season showing his cardio toughness. Not that he handled the ball a ton, but he had a very low turnover rate for a scoring guard.
How Will Tennessee Use Lundblade?
Lundblade is a key get but is still going to have to come in and earn playing time. I don’t think he will be the centerpiece of Tennessee’s portal class or of the Vols’ offense next season.
But I imagine they will do a lot of the same thing with Lundblade that they did with Chaz Lanier two seasons ago. They have similar skillsets though Lundblade is a smidge taller at 6-foot-5 and Lanier is more athletic.
Think lots of pin down screens, floppy actions and some dribble hand offs. Lundblade has a super quick release and is elite at getting his feet set and knocking down shots that look off balanced but really aren’t.
Not that I expect Tennessee to use Lundblade as a pick-and-roll ball handler but he is sneakily solid at that too for his athleticism. At Belmont, he worked in the midrange and scored on cuts just enough to keep opposing defenses honest.
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Questions About Lundblade’s Game
If you’ve read this far you know that it is the athleticism. I don’t worry about it much on the offensive end because of the things he does to offset it that we discussed in the last section. But where it will matter is on the defensive end of the court.
Lundblade was a below average defender in the MVC and now has to do it in the SEC. It’s why EvanMiya’s data driven transfer portal rankings are lower on Lundblade then the more traditional portal rankings from 247sports and On3.
But Lundblade knows he needs to improve on defense and coming to Tennessee will help him do that. Tennessee knows that he struggles defensively and Rick Barnes still made him a priority. That means the Vols believe he can improve enough to not be a liability.
What Does Lundblade’s Commitment Mean For Tennessee Basketball?
It’s Tennessee’s first portal commitment and means that as things currently stand, the Vols are full on scholarships next season. But that is not reality. Nate Ament will likely go pro and multiple players will likely transfer, opening up a handful of more roster spots.
Expect the Vols to still add at least two more players that can play on the perimeter with one being a point guard and another being an off ball scorer. That player could be more of a combo guard or more of a true wing player.
Rick Barnes made it clear following Tennessee’s loss to Michigan that the Vols needed to add more shooting to its roster. They immediately improved the shooting on next season’s roster by adding Lundblade.
