University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Vols Place Sixth in AP Poll
December 25, 2023 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men's basketball team earned a season-best ranking of sixth in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, as announced Monday afternoon.
Tennessee (9-3) moved up two spots in the newest release. This is the 46th consecutive week the Volunteers are in the AP Top 25, extending the program record—the prior high was 37—and the 19th time during that span they are in the top 10.
In addition, ninth-year head coach Rick Barnes has now led Tennessee to an AP national ranking 100 times, all within the last seven seasons. It was featured in the rankings 74 times in the prior 14 years before his arrival.
This is also the fifth time in the last six seasons Tennessee has been in the AP top six, including the fourth in a row. Prior to Barnes' arrival, the Volunteers had six total seasons in program history with a top-six AP ranking.
Tennessee won its lone game last week, posting a 65-46 victory Thursday against Tarleton State at Food City Center, upping its winning streak to five.
After earning 983 points in the AP balloting last week, the Volunteers garnered 1,125 this week. The 142-point improvement puts them just 24 behind Connecticut for fifth and 68 behind Arizona for fourth.
Tennessee is once again the highest-ranked team in the AP Poll, leading a trio of top-25 programs. Kentucky sits eighth on the list, while Ole Miss comes in at No. 24. Five other teams are featured in the "receiving votes" category, including Auburn, which is atop that entire group. Also listed are Alabama, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
This week's USA TODAY Coaches Poll has not yet been released.
Following an 11-day layoff, the Volunteers are back in action Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., as they conclude non-conference play against Norfolk State, live on SEC Network from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Tennessee (9-3) moved up two spots in the newest release. This is the 46th consecutive week the Volunteers are in the AP Top 25, extending the program record—the prior high was 37—and the 19th time during that span they are in the top 10.
In addition, ninth-year head coach Rick Barnes has now led Tennessee to an AP national ranking 100 times, all within the last seven seasons. It was featured in the rankings 74 times in the prior 14 years before his arrival.
This is also the fifth time in the last six seasons Tennessee has been in the AP top six, including the fourth in a row. Prior to Barnes' arrival, the Volunteers had six total seasons in program history with a top-six AP ranking.
Tennessee won its lone game last week, posting a 65-46 victory Thursday against Tarleton State at Food City Center, upping its winning streak to five.
After earning 983 points in the AP balloting last week, the Volunteers garnered 1,125 this week. The 142-point improvement puts them just 24 behind Connecticut for fifth and 68 behind Arizona for fourth.
Tennessee is once again the highest-ranked team in the AP Poll, leading a trio of top-25 programs. Kentucky sits eighth on the list, while Ole Miss comes in at No. 24. Five other teams are featured in the "receiving votes" category, including Auburn, which is atop that entire group. Also listed are Alabama, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
This week's USA TODAY Coaches Poll has not yet been released.
Following an 11-day layoff, the Volunteers are back in action Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., as they conclude non-conference play against Norfolk State, live on SEC Network from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
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