Tennessee basketball remains in the top-spot in this week’s AP Poll after surviving a scare against MTSU in its lone game last week.
It’s the fourth straight week that Tennessee occupies the top-spot in the AP Poll and the Vols are 4-0 with the No. 1 ranking by its name, defeating Miami, Illinois, Western Carolina and the Blue Raiders. Tennessee now boasts an 11-2 record all time while ranked as the No. 1 team in the country.
Tennessee’s 82-64 win against MTSU was one of its most competitive games this season despite the final score. The Vols trailed by six points at halftime and led by just six points with seven minutes to play before ending the game on a big run. It was the first time all season that Tennessee has trailed at halftime.
The Vols are one of 10 SEC team in this week’s poll, coming in ahead of No. 2 Auburn, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, No. 10 Kentucky, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 17 Mississippi State, No. 23 Arkansas and No. 24 Ole Miss.
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Tennessee is off to an 11-0 start to the season which is its best start to the season since 1999-2000. If the Vols win their final non conference game and open SEC play with a home win over Arkansas then Tennessee will tie its best start to the season in 1922-23.
Rick Barnes’ 10th Tennessee team has exceeded expectations offensively this season thanks in large part due to North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard is averaging a team-best 19.3 points per game on 47% shooting from three-point range.
Zakai Zeigler has picked up where he left off last season and is averaging 11.8 points and 8.3 assists per game while running the Vols’ offense. Both Jordan Gainey and Igor Milicic have been other solid offensive options.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Norfolk State is at 3:30 p.m. ET on New Years Eve. The SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
