Despite a disappointing week, Tennessee basketball remains in the final spots of the Dec. 8 AP Poll. The Vols dropped seven-spots from No. 13 to No. 20 following their winless week with losses against Syracuse and Illinois. It’s tied for the lowest Tennessee has been ranked this season. However, the Vols’ streak of weeks ranked in the AP Poll continues and reaches 86 after coming in at No. 20.
The Vols are one of six SEC teams in this week’s rankings coming in behind No. 12 Alabama, No. 15 Vanderbilt, No. 17 Arkansas and No. 18 Florida. Tennessee comes in ahead of No. 21 Auburn. The SEC has struggled early this season and looks much worse than it did a season ago. In particular, Auburn and Kentucky have had poor starts to the season.
Tennessee has now lost three straight games dating back to its defeat against Kansas in the third place game at the Players Era Festival.
Rick Barnes’ 11th Tennessee team followed up the disappointing loss against Kansas with a 62-60 upset loss at Syracuse in the ACC-SEC Challenge. The Vols then followed in up with a 75-62 loss against Illinois in a neutral site game in Nashville.
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The Vols played very poorly in the loss at Syracuse including a late game defensive breakdown which led to the Orange taking the lead at the free throw line. Tennessee led Illinois with 10 minutes remaining before playing horrible down the stretch and losing by double digits.
It’s the first time since early in the 2023-24 season that Tennessee has lost three straight games. The Vols lost to Purdue, Kansas and North Carolina consecutively that season before rebounding to win the SEC and make the Elite Eight.
Tennessee basketball will have to wait a while before getting back on the court. The Vols do not play a game this week before returning to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 16 when they face No. 11 Louisville in Knoxville.
“I’d rather be playing,” Barnes said of the off stretch following the Louisville game. “I don’t think we need practice. I mean, we’re good in practice. We’re good in practice.”
Following the Louisville game, Tennessee plays two buy games before opening up SEC play on Saturday, Jan. 3 against Arkansas in Fayetteville.
