Tennessee basketball moved up one spot to No. 7 in the Dec. 26 AP Poll after going 1-0 on Christmas week. Virginia’s loss shook up the back half of the Top 10.
The Vols played just one game on the week before having six days without a game and time off for Christmas break. Bouncing back from its narrow loss at No. 5 Arizona, Tennessee dominated Austin Peay, 86-44, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
Tennessee jumped out to an insurmountable 22-2 lead over the Govs before coasting to its 10th victory of the season.
The Dec. 26 AP Poll marks the fourth straight week Tennessee has ranked in the nation’s top 10. The Vols have ranked in the nation’s top 25 of all seven AP Polls this season.
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Tennessee is one of six SEC teams in this week’s AP Poll as the No. 7 Volunteers lead No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 Arkansas, No. 19 Kentucky, No. 20 Auburn and No. 21 Mississippi State.
The Vols open SEC play and begin their hunt to win the SEC regular season crown Wednesday night at Ole Miss. Starting on the road is never easy, but the Vols are well-equipped to earn a win over the struggling Rebels.
While Tennessee has a soft open to SEC play, the Vols have home matchups with No. 21 Mississippi State (Jan. 3) and No. 19 Kentucky (Jan. 14).
Tip-off between the Vols and Rebels is at 5 p.m. ET at the Pavilion at Ole Miss.
