Tennessee basketball moved up a spot from No. 4 to No. 2 in this week’s AP Poll after a 2-0 week that saw them earn double-digit victories over Georgia and then-No. 10 Texas.
The Vols jumped rival Alabama in the poll after the Crimson Tide survived a home scare against Mississippi State and took a shellacking from Oklahoma in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Tennessee also jumped Houston after the Cougars limped past Cincinnati Saturday.
Tennessee’s 107 points behind No. 1 Purdue and the Vols did not receive a first-place vote in the poll.
Rick Barnes’ eighth Tennessee team is winners of four straight after a disappointing loss against Kentucky. Point guard Zakai Zeigler has been brilliant over the four-game stretch, averaging 17.3 points, 7.8 assists and just 2.3 turnovers per game.
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Tennessee is one of three SEC teams in this week’s top 25 along with No. 4 Alabama and No. 25 Auburn. It’s been a rocky few weeks for the conference as teams other than the Vols and Crimson Tide struggle and the Big 12 won the final Big 12/SEC Challenge.
As the calendar soon turns to February, Tennessee’s schedule gets more challenging and that starts this week. The Vols head to Florida Wednesday night before returning to Knoxville to host old friend Bruce Pearl and Auburn to Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday afternoon.
The Gators are on the wrong side of the bubble in Todd Golden’s first season but a victory over Tennessee is the type of result that would seriously bolster their resume. Despite coming off an 0-2 week, Auburn is once again one of the top teams in the SEC.
Tip-off from the O’Connell Center in Gainesville is at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday night. ESPN2 is broadcasting the game.
