Tennessee basketball dropped one-spot to No. 23 in the AP Poll following its 0-2 week with losses at Missouri and home against Alabama. The Vols fell three-spots to No. 25 in this week’s USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Vols have been in-and-out of the AP Poll throughout conference play. Tennessee’s 90-week ranked streak ended on Jan. 19 following the Vols home loss against Kentucky. They got back in the Feb. 2 AP Poll after winning three straight games but promptly fell out following the loss at Kentucky.
Four straight wins including a road victory at Vanderbilt led to Tennessee jumping back into the Feb. 23 poll. Surprisingly the Vols remained in the rankings despite the two losses.
Tennessee is one of five SEC teams in this week’s AP Poll, coming in behind No. 5 Florida, No. 16 Alabama and No. 20 Arkansas while the Vols came in a spot ahead of No. 24 Vanderbilt.
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It was a disappointing last week for Tennessee. The Vols turned it over 15 times and allowed 47 second half points in a 73-69 loss against Missouri. Then Tennessee blew a double-digit second half lead against Alabama. It the was the fourth double-digit second half lead that the Vols have blown this season.
Tennessee enters the final week of the regular season with a 20-9 (10-6 SEC) record. The Vols are tied for fourth in the SEC but do not hold the tiebreaker against either Kentucky or Missouri. Tennessee needs a 2-0 week to give itself a chance at a top four seed and the subsequent double-by in the SEC Tournament.
The Vols are looking to bounce back this week to close the regular season. They travel to South Carolina Tuesday night before returning home for a rematch against Vanderbilt at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day.
But first, Tennessee heads on the road for its final road game of the season. Tipoff between the Vols and Gamecocks is at 6 p.m. ET at Colonial Life Arena. The SEC Network is broadcasting the game.
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