University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Elliot Walker/Tennessee Athletics
Vols Rise to #19/20 Nationally
December 22, 2025 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men's basketball team moved up in both major polls this week, as revealed Monday afternoon.
Tennessee (9-3) ascended one spot, to No. 19, in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and climbed three places, to No. 20, in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
The Volunteers are in the AP top 25 for 88th consecutive week, a ledger that dates to the 2021-2 preseason poll. That is 51 above the previous program high of 37 weeks, set from March 1999 to Feb. 2001.
That 88-week streak is the second-longest active mark in the country, trailing only Houston (114). No other school is at even 70-plus week, while the nearest SEC team, Alabama, ranks sixth at 38 weeks and is 50 behind Tennessee. In addition, Tennessee's mark is longer than the combined active streaks (83) of all other SEC schools put together.
Across the 88-week streak, the Volunteers have racked up 83 spots in the AP top 20. They have claimed a top-20 position in each of the last 66 poll releases, since Dec. 7, 2022.
In total, 11th-year head coach Rick Barnes has steered Tennessee to 142 total AP top-25 nods. All have come since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
There are again six SEC teams in the top 25 of both polls, as Tennessee is featured alongside No. 11 Vanderbilt, No. 14/15 Alabama, No. 18 Arkansas, No. 22 Florida and No. 23/24 Georgia. In addition, three schools—Kentucky, Auburn and LSU—are in the receiving votes section of both polls.
The Volunteers went 2-0 last week, claiming a pair of home wins by 21-plus points. They first defeated No. 11 Louisville, 83-62, Tuesday night behind 23 points, including 20 in the second half, from Ja'Kobi Gillespie. Then, Sunday afternoon, Gillespie and fellow senior guard Amaree Abram scored 15 points apiece in a 94-52 victory against Gardner-Webb.
Tennessee received 460 points in the AP Poll this week, an increase of 174. In the Coaches Poll, it collected 210 points, a jump of 91 from last week.
The Volunteers, following eight days without a game, takes the hardwood again Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. for a matchup with South Carolina State at Food City Center, live on SEC Network.
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) ascended one spot, to No. 19, in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and climbed three places, to No. 20, in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
The Volunteers are in the AP top 25 for 88th consecutive week, a ledger that dates to the 2021-2 preseason poll. That is 51 above the previous program high of 37 weeks, set from March 1999 to Feb. 2001.
That 88-week streak is the second-longest active mark in the country, trailing only Houston (114). No other school is at even 70-plus week, while the nearest SEC team, Alabama, ranks sixth at 38 weeks and is 50 behind Tennessee. In addition, Tennessee's mark is longer than the combined active streaks (83) of all other SEC schools put together.
Across the 88-week streak, the Volunteers have racked up 83 spots in the AP top 20. They have claimed a top-20 position in each of the last 66 poll releases, since Dec. 7, 2022.
In total, 11th-year head coach Rick Barnes has steered Tennessee to 142 total AP top-25 nods. All have come since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
There are again six SEC teams in the top 25 of both polls, as Tennessee is featured alongside No. 11 Vanderbilt, No. 14/15 Alabama, No. 18 Arkansas, No. 22 Florida and No. 23/24 Georgia. In addition, three schools—Kentucky, Auburn and LSU—are in the receiving votes section of both polls.
The Volunteers went 2-0 last week, claiming a pair of home wins by 21-plus points. They first defeated No. 11 Louisville, 83-62, Tuesday night behind 23 points, including 20 in the second half, from Ja'Kobi Gillespie. Then, Sunday afternoon, Gillespie and fellow senior guard Amaree Abram scored 15 points apiece in a 94-52 victory against Gardner-Webb.
Tennessee received 460 points in the AP Poll this week, an increase of 174. In the Coaches Poll, it collected 210 points, a jump of 91 from last week.
The Volunteers, following eight days without a game, takes the hardwood again Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. for a matchup with South Carolina State at Food City Center, live on SEC Network.
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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/ Men's BasketballMBB | Rick Barnes Postgame vs. Gardner-Webb (12.21.25)
Sunday, December 21
MBB | Gardner Webb Postgame (12.21.25)
Sunday, December 21
MBB | DeWayne Brown II & J.P. Estrella Postgame vs. Gardner-Webb (12.21.25)
Sunday, December 21
MBB | Highlights: Tennessee 94, Gardner-Webb 52
Sunday, December 21
