I think Rick Barnes thinks he has the primary parts and little pieces of another good basketball team.

It is not yet ready for prime time. It is still on the assembly line. Maybe components will fit precisely. If/when there is a finished unit, maybe it will be swift and strong, capable of shooting a respectable percentage and willing to play Barnes’ brand of defense. Could be it will be ready to roll before tough competition arrives.

Elite media, in the official Southeastern Conference preseason poll, picked Tennessee to finish third behind Alabama and Auburn. We’ll see about that.

Point guard Zakai Zeigler was named first-team all-SEC. He is three ways deserving. He might be most of 5-9 but he thinks he is 9-5.

Writers and broadcasters didn’t recognize the names of any other Volunteers – not the gunner Chaz Lanier, not big guys Igor Milicic or Felix Okpara, not fiercely determined Jahmai Mashack or could-be Jordan Gainey and certainly not the sophomores who will help.

Before you ask, Tennessee has nothing like Dalton Knecht, the surprising all-American scorer of last season who learned to play defense and became an NBA multi-millionaire.

Lanier, homegrown, Nashville Ensworth, transfer from North Florida, was recruited to fill some of the void. He teased with 27 points in the practice game with Davidson and went most of hitless against Indiana. He is learning that Tennessee’s floor has two ends.

Ziggy flies high: February 14, 2024, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo By Andrew Ferguson/ Tennessee Athletics)

Fortunately, Ziggy knows. He can score, direct traffic, inspire the defense and provide team leadership. Ziggy is also good in Garza Law commercials on TV.

Tennessee officially comes out to play on Monday evening at Food City Center against the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs. They’ll probably be more bark than bite. They are projected as sixth best in the Big South Conference. Jeremy Luther is the new head coach after 11 seasons as an assistant.

Just in case you are not familiar with Gardner-Webb University, I’ll tell you this much: It is the feature attraction in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. It is known for Christian teaching and diversity. The basketball roster follows at least the second part of that format. Players are from such far-away places as Brooklyn; Odessa, Texas; Yokohama, Japan; and Tel Aviv, Israel.

I suspect Tennessee plays Gardner-Webb because Barnes is doing somebody a favor. He’s from Hickory, about an hour away.

The Bulldogs probably won’t be as tall and muscular and athletic as the Volunteers. Thanks to the NIL organization, Barnes finally has people who might influence play near the goal.

Okpara is 6-11 and 235, imported from Ohio State after a background stay at Link Academy in Missouri. Felix is from Lagos, Nigeria. Just guessing he will be tougher in combat than was very popular but long gone (to Arkansas) Jonas Aidoo.

Milicic is 6-10 and 224, a native of Rovinj, Croatia, son of a professional coach, transfer from Charlotte, already a veteran on the Polish national team. He is said to be unusually versatile – a scorer, rebounder and even a capable ball-handler.

Sophomore Cade Phillips, just 6-9, has insight from practice. He said Igor is special.

“He knows how to really play basketball and at his size, he is very skilled.”

Charlotte used him as a top-of-the-key triggerman.

Sophomore J.P. Estrella, 6-11 and 250, told us late last season that he can be an inside factor, maybe a force. He fought a good tournament fight against Purdue’s man-mountain Zach Edey.

Starting lineup for the Volunteers? Could be flexible but likely Ziggy, Mashack, Lanier, Milicic and Okpara. Gainey may be the sixth man. Darlinstone Dubar, 6-6, is a wing shooter. Phillips and Cameron Carr have high potential. Freshman Bishop Boswell is a point guard in training.

Barnes repeats himself – often – at games, in practice, team meetings and public addresses. What he wants to see is defensive effort. History has convinced him that effort leads to results. Athletic ability helps. Attitude (think Zeigler and Mashack) is the winning edge.

Tennessee hit 31 percent against Indiana. That didn’t seem to bother the coach all that much. Defensive lapses trigger reactions. A certain shooter didn’t play in the final 6:45.

Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com