Tennessee basketball landed at No. 12 in the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday. It’s the exact same spot that the Vols landed in the Preseason AP Poll earlier last week.
The Vols are the third highest ranked SEC team in the poll, coming in behind No. 2 Alabama and No. 11 Auburn. The coaches are big fans of the SEC to start the season with nine total teams landing in the poll including Texas A&M (15), Arkansas (16), Texas (19), Florida (21), Kentucky (23) and Ole Miss (25).
Tennessee has one definitive non conference game against a team in the Preseason Coaches Poll as they travel to Champagne to face No. 24 Illinois in December. The Vols could play No. 8 Baylor in the Baha Mar Tournament if both teams win their first game in the event. Tennessee will also face off against No. 18 Indiana in an exhibition game this Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Rick Barnes’ Tennessee program has been a constant in the polls in recent seasons, ranking in the AP Poll for 60 straight weeks entering Barnes’ 10th season as head coach. The final AP Poll of the 2020-21 season is the last time that Tennessee wasn’t ranked.
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The Vols lost four of their five starters off of last season’s Elite Eight team including SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht, All-SEC center Jonas Aidoo and experienced veterans Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi.
But despite losing key players Tennessee has a blend of key contributors, potential second year standouts and a talented transfer class that provides an abundance of optimism.
All-SEC point guard Zakai Zeigler is back as well as guards Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey. Sophomores Cam Carr, JP Estrella and Cade Phillips are all looking to take significant steps forward. Tennessee also added Ohio State center Felix Okpara, Charlotte forward Igor Milicic, Hofstra forward Darlinstone Dubar and North Florida guard Chaz Lanier to the roster.
We get our first look at Tennessee against an opponent this Sunday when they face Indiana in an exhibition game. The Vols’ then open their regular season against Gardener Webb on Nov. 4 at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
