Chaz Lanier Must Diversify His Scoring for Tennessee to Find Tournament Success

By Pablo Cong

Two things stood out from the first time I watched Chaz Lanier play for Tennessee. First, he is an elite shooter with a polished perimeter game, making him a constant threat from beyond the arc. However, the other noticeable aspect of his play was his lack of consistent aggression when attacking the rim.

Tennessee's success in March will depend heavily on Lanier expanding his offensive game beyond just jump shooting. While his perimeter skills are a significant weapon, over-reliance on his jumper could limit the Vols' offensive versatility—especially when defenses tighten in the NCAA Tournament. To take his game to the next level and help Tennessee reach its full potential, Lanier must become a more dynamic scorer by consistently attacking the basket.

The Problem with a Jumper-Heavy Game

Lanier’s ability to stretch the floor is well-documented. With a smooth shooting stroke and elite efficiency from beyond the arc, he remains a constant threat from deep. However, once tournament play begins, elite defenses will key in on his tendencies, forcing him into difficult, contested shots or aggressively running him off the three-point line.

When facing rugged, physical defenses that close out hard, Lanier has struggled to counter effectively. Without a reliable ability to finish through contact or generate scoring opportunities inside, he risks becoming one-dimensional—an exploitable weakness in high-stakes matchups.

Teams like Auburn and Kentucky exposed this vulnerability by neutralizing his perimeter shooting and forcing him to put the ball on the floor. In those games, he struggled to adapt, shooting just 4-of-11 against Auburn in January and a combined 8-of-27 in two matchups against Kentucky. If he wants to elevate his game and maximize his impact in March, developing a more balanced offensive attack will be crucial.

Why Rim Pressure Matters

What’s most puzzling about Lanier’s game is that he’s not undersized—standing at 6'5" and weighing 200 pounds, he has the physical tools to absorb contact and finish through defenders. Yet, he often shies away from this physicality, needing to shift his mentality and become more aggressive at the rim. To maximize his potential, Lanier must embrace contact and actively seek out free-throw opportunities by leveraging his size and strength.

In 31 games, he has attempted just 75 free throws—averaging only 2.42 attempts per game. This is a glaring red flag, signaling a lack of aggression around the basket. I believe Lanier should be targeting 8-10 free throw attempts per game to put consistent pressure on defenses and fully utilize his physical tools.

As the chart below shows, only 10.7% of his field goal attempts come at the rim, while 11.8% are taken just below the free-throw line. The remaining 75.7% of his shots are from the perimeter, underscoring the concern that he’s settling for jumpers rather than attacking the basket. This shift in mentality is essential for Lanier to become a more dynamic and unpredictable offensive weapon.

By attacking the basket, Lanier can:

• Create Easier Buckets: Jump shots, especially contested ones, are inherently lower-percentage attempts and can lead to long rebounds that fuel the opponent's transition offense. Tennessee thrives on its elite half-court defense, one of the best in the country, so minimizing fast-break opportunities for the opposition is crucial. Attacking the rim not only provides higher-quality scoring chances but also forces defenses to collapse.
  
  

• Draw Fouls and Get to the Line: Free throws slow the game down and give Tennessee efficient scoring opportunities—an invaluable asset in tight tournament matchups. Getting to the line also puts pressure on defenses, forces opponents into foul trouble, and helps control the game’s tempo.
  
  

• Open Up His Perimeter Game: If defenses are forced to respect his drives, it will create more space for his jumper, making him an even more lethal offensive threat. Lanier is already an elite movement shooter, but if he establishes his scoring from the inside out—rather than relying on jumpers first—it will free him up for cleaner looks and make his perimeter game even more dangerous. 

Final Thoughts

While it should be a collective effort, Lanier will be a key factor in making the necessary adjustments as he prepares to take the tournament by storm. The Vols lack a dominant interior scoring presence, making perimeter players like Lanier even more crucial in breaking down defenses. Tennessee already has the defensive toughness and structured system to be a legitimate contender in March, but they need greater offensive versatility to complement it.

If Chaz Lanier can pair his elite shooting with a more aggressive approach to attacking the rim, he has the potential to evolve into a true three-level scorer—providing Tennessee with the offensive firepower they need to make a serious push for the Final Four.

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(Featured Image Credit: Tennessee Athletics)