Tennessee basketball landed at No. 9 in the Preseason AP Poll and No. 10 nationally in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll. The Vols are the highest rated team in the SEC in each preseason poll.
Head coach Rick Barnes’ ninth Tennessee team is one of five SEC teams in the preseason AP Poll, coming in ahead of No. 14 Arkansas, No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 16 Kentucky and No. 24 Alabama. The Vols are also one of five times in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll coming in ahead of No. 14 Arkansas, No. 16 Kentucky, No. 19 Texas A&M and No. 24 Alabama
The Vols play Kentucky and Alabama twice and play Arkansas, Auburn and Texas A&M once each. Tennessee faces four top 25 teams in its non conference schedule including either No. 3 Purdue or No. 11 Gonzaga, No. 19 North Carolina and No. 25 Illinois. The Vols could also face another ranked opponent in their final game at the Maui Invitational.
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Expectations are high for the 2023-24 Vols after veterans Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James elected to return to Knoxville for their super senior season. Tennessee also added talented redshirt freshman Freddie Dilione (who early enrolled and redshirted last season) and transfers Jordan Gainey and Dalton Knecht to a roster that returns six contributors from last season’s Sweet 16 team.
Tennessee also returners a number of players looking to take a step forward in their second or third-year in the program including Tobe Awaka, Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack.
