Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall under NCAA probe

KNOXVILLE -- The beginning of the Donnie Tyndall era wasn't supposed to look like this.

When Tennessee takes the floor for its season opener Friday night against No. 16 Virginia Commonwealth in Annapolis, Md., it will do so in the shadow of an NCAA investigation into Tyndall.

The investigation stems from alleged violations that occurred during Tyndall's tenure at Southern Miss, including financial benefits that non-scholarship players might have received, according to Bleacher Report.

Through the early stages of the NCAA's investigation, which will reportedly come to Knoxville early next week, Tyndall has insisted that his new team will maintain its focus. That's especially important with a non-conference slate that also includes games against Kansas State, North Carolina State and even a potential meeting with No. 5 Kansas.

Tyndall wouldn't talk about the investigation Wednesday but said the opener was "a huge challenge and a big task but I really believe our guys will be excited and ready to play Friday night."

By opening the season against VCU, which has made the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons, Tyndall has a chance to quiet those already questioning his fit at Tennessee. Winning tends to have that effect, especially for teams that aren't expected to be successful.

"We've prepared for this since the summertime," said guard Kevin Punter, a junior college transfer from the Bronx, N.Y. "Coach has been talking about this game since preseason workouts. We're ready for it. We can't wait for Friday night."

The Vols ranked second from the bottom among SEC teams in the conference's preseason media poll. Though they're just a year removed from a Sweet 16 run, there are just four scholarship returnees on the roster — including converted point guard Josh Richardson, who was named second-team preseason all-conference by the SEC's coaches.

Two of the other three — Robert Hubbs III and Derek Reese — are expected to be among the starting five when Tennessee takes the floor for the Veterans Classic.

Rounding out the starters will be Punter, a guard and either Armani Moore or 6-10 Memphis transfer Dominic Woodson.

The 6-6, 200-pound Richardson will probably be the most important player to Tennessee's season. A year ago, he was one of the better defensive players in the conference. Now, he's been asked to run the offense for the first time since high school.

That offense has looked turnover prone in the exhibition season, though the Vols cut their mistakes in half from the opener against NAIA Pikeville to the finale against Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.

Because of the glaring inexperience, Tyndall has been pragmatic when talking about his team's prospects for this season. He has said his first team at Southern Miss tied for the least experience in all of college basketball. This year presents an equal challenge.

At SEC Media Day last month, Tyndall said his team's second-to-last standing in the preseason media poll was "rightfully picked."

"Do we plan to finish there?" he asked. "No."

Matt Slovin writes for The (Nasvhille) Tennessean.