Tennessee’s men’s basketball team jumped from No. 18 to No. 17 in this week’s AP poll. The Lady Vols fell from No. 15 to No. 16 in the women’s poll.
Both Tennessee teams went 2-0 in the first week of the season, though the men’s team did so in more convincing fashion.
Rick Barnes’ seventh Tennessee team earned a 90-62 win over UT-Martin and a 94-62 win over ETSU. Freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler dazzled in his first two college games, taking home SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
The Vols are one of six SEC teams in this week’s AP poll, coming in behind Kentucky (13), Alabama (14), Arkansas (16) and ahead of Auburn (21) and Florida (24)
Life gets much harder for Tennessee this week as they travel to Uncasville, Connecticut to face No. 5 Villanova and either No. 6 Purdue or No. 18 North Carolina.
The Lady Vols’ opening week of the season included a 59-49 win over Southern Illinois and a 49-41 win over UCF. Tennessee earned wins despite star senior Rae Burrell suffering an injury that has her sidelined indefinitely in the second quarter of the season opener against SIU.
The Lady Vols’ offense has struggled without Burrell and their progression is a major storyline to watch this season.
Tennessee is the second highest rated SEC team in the AP poll, coming in behind only No. 1 South Carolina. Kentucky (19) and Texas A&M (24) are also in the poll.
Kellie Harper’s third Tennessee team gets a major test tonight when they host No. 23 South Florida at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Lady Vols then have six days off before hosting No. 12 Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena Sunday afternoon.
Stay tuned at RockyTopInsider.com all week for coverage of the Vols and Lady Vols.
