Cuonzo Martin starts with no excuses for players

Cuonzo Martin responds to the NCAA infractions report and lack of a post-season ban

The returning players on the Tennessee men's basketball team have been through a lot in the past year.

They heard their program criticized throughout much of last season during an ongoing NCAA investigation, they lost the coaches who recruited them, and few have had the opportunity to get much playing time.

The sensitive side of new Vols coach Cuonzo Martin feels for them.

"I know what's happened to them,'' Martin said Friday in Pratt Pavilion after the start of fall individual drills. "I understand losing a coaching staff is tough on guys.''

Still, Martin knows opponents aren't going to feel sorry for his inexperienced and undersized team.

"I'm not going to allow them to use any of that as an excuse,'' Martin said. "We all know what's on the table.''

That would be the tough side of Martin talking — the one who grew up in East St. Louis, Ill., played through three knee injuries for taskmaster Gene Keady at Purdue and later overcame non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

The hardened side of Martin, from all early indications, is what the players need to get used to.

"I'm not sure where to start as far as the differences between the last staff and this one, because it's a big difference,'' junior center Kenny Hall said. "The biggest difference is there is a lot of discipline, the little stuff, getting to every class and every team meeting on time, new team rules. I don't always like it, but in the back of my mind, I know it's what we need.''

Martin laughed when asked if he was micromanaging.

"I guess if you want to call it that,'' he said. "I'd just say there's going to be a lot of micromanaging going on.''

It started with Friday's workouts in groups of four, where Martin introduced Tennessee's new "defensive DNA.''

Sophomore Trae Golden, projected to start at point guard, said he and his teammates are prepared for a challenging fall camp.

"Coach Martin focuses on the defense,'' Golden said, "so we're going to be in great shape, because we know we're going to defend hard for 40 minutes every night.''

Martin was impressed with Friday's workouts.

"They had a good first day, better than I expected,'' Martin said. "But it's a journey; let's see what they do tomorrow.''

Senior Renaldo Woolridge said it will be a process.

"Once everyone blends together, it will work out,'' he said. "I think we have a good group of guys, and once we click, it's going to be scary.''

Ready Renaldo: Woolridge has been a so-called "tweener" throughout his career, but this time around the 6-foot-9 Woolridge likes the idea of playing multiple positions.

"I've been on every end of the spectrum since I've been at Tennessee,'' Woolridge said. "I really needed this (fresh start). This is my fourth year, and I haven't shown anything I can do on the court.''

Woolridge said he remains hopeful he can get a redshirt after missing much of the past season with injuries, but he's preparing as though this is his senior season.

Martin said Woolridge is versatile enough to play every position but point guard.

All Business: Hall said the Vols have not held back on one another during the summer's unsupervised open gym workouts.

"Everyone is in great shape,'' Hall said. "We've been pushing each other. Open gym has been all business. Nobody has a starting position.''

Togetherness: Martin is stressing "team togetherness and team toughness'' this preseason.

"We'll eat a team meal together tonight (Friday), and we'll go to the (UT) volleyball match together,'' Martin said. "I think that's important, because really, we have a whole new roster. Even the guys that have been here don't know how much I'm going to expect from them.''

Orange Slices: Cam Tatum has trimmed down to 4.3-percent body fat. ... UT's first day of workouts began with a timed mile run at 6 a.m., followed by weightlifting and the individual workout sessions. ... Even though Woolridge is the tallest returning player, his workout was with wings Tatum, Jordan McRae and Quinton Chievous. ... Martin said incoming freshman Josh Richardson will get work at point guard.