How Dalton Knecht Changes Tennessee's Offense
On April 21st, the Volunteers landed former Northern Colorado Bear guard Dalton Knecht. He was one of three transfers the Volunteers got in a very active offseason.
Knecht was recently put in the projected 2023-24 starting lineup by ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello in his way-too-early rankings. He had Tennessee fifth overall. Putting the transfer into the starting lineup on a tea with many returning players speaks volumes about how his game is viewed. Knecht's skill set is something that pushes the Volunteers ahead of their competition, in particular, on offense.
At 6 feet and 6 inches tall, Knecht is a guard who can really stretch the court from anywhere on the offensive side of the floor. This includes driving to the rim for shots inside the lane and from the mid-range area. He also has a great three-point shot. Knecht shot 38.1% from three and was 47.9% from the field overall at Northern Colorado. The Volunteers could use this boost in shooting percentage. They shot in the low 40s from the field and in the low 30s from three-point land as a team during the 2022-23 season.
Knecht would have been one of the Vols' best three-point shooters if he had also been on the team last season. B.J. Edwards and Santiago Vescovi led the team in three-point percentage last season at 40% and 37%, respectively. Knecht's versatility and size give other players chances to set him up in a variety of ways he can score. One player that can help set up the big guard is Zakai Zeigler. He was the SEC leader in assists, and his ball-sharing ability will be something Knecht can benefit from. The Volunteers' offense can benefit from Knecht, and he can benefit from the system set up around him. His addition to the team offers a new look that can push Tennessee over the top to a true title contender.
