Where Tennessee Basketball opponents are ranked in ESPN's Preseason Top 25

Tennessee Basketball is ranked No. 18 in ESPN’s preseason Top 25, which was released this week by college basketball analyst Jeff Borzello. The Vols, who are projected to be the fifth-best team in the SEC based on the rankings, will face nine opponents — 11 total games, including one exhibition — that are ranked in ESPN’s preseason Top 25.

Here’s where Tennessee’s opponents are ranked by ESPN entering the new season:

No. 2 Florida

The Schedule: Tennessee goes to Florida on January 10 in a Noon Eastern Time start. It will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2.

ESPN: “Could Florida go back-to-back? After what Todd Golden did to revamp the backcourt in the offseason, it’s not out of the question. The Gators were already bringing back one of the nation’s elite frontcourts, with potential first-rounders Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh (an easy breakout candidate) leading the way.”

No. 3 Houston 

The Schedule: Tennessee faces Houston on Day 2 at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas on November 25. The game will start at 6 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Vols face Rutgers on November 24 and will play a third game in the tournament on either November 26 or 27, against an opponent to be determined.

ESPN: “Not only do three starters return from last season’s group, including projected first-rounders Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler, but Houston also brings in one of the best recruiting classes in the country — complete with three top-25 recruits, two of whom could start from day one.”

No. 6 Louisville

The Schedule: Tennessee hosts Louisville on December 16 at Food City Center, the second game in a home-and-home that started with a win at Louisville last November. This season’s game is a 7 p.m. ET start on ESPN.

ESPN: “After guiding Louisville to a 19-win improvement in his first season at the helm, Pat Kelsey has loftier goals for Year 2. The Cardinals have one of the deepest and most explosive perimeter groups in America, with projected lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. surrounded by transfers Ryan Conwell (Xavier), Isaac McKneely (Virginia) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State).”

No. 9 Kentucky 

The Schedule: Tennessee hosts Kentucky on January 17 in a Noon ET start on ESPN and goes to Rupp Arena on February 7 in an 8:30 p.m. ET start on ESPN.

ESPN: “Mark Pope won’t be short of depth this season, with a roster that looks capable of going 11 or 12 deep, minimum. All-SEC guard Otega Oweh leads the returnees, and Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe and projected lottery pick Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State) are the top newcomers.”

No. 10 Duke

The Schedule: Tennessee hosts Duke in a sold-out preseason exhibition game at Food City Center on October 26. It’s scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start on ESPN2.

ESPN: “Falling short of a national championship last season will sting for Jon Scheyer, but he has replaced his five outgoing NBA draft picks — highlighted by No. 1 pick and Wooden Award winner Cooper Flagg — with another No. 1-ranked recruiting class and a few key returnees. Cameron Boozer isn’t Flagg, but Boozer is a lock to be one of the most productive freshmen in the country.”

No. 12 Arkansas

The Schedule: Tennessee goes to Arkansas to start SEC play on January 3 in a 3 p.m. ET start on ESPN2 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. 

ESPN: “The Razorbacks went through a few different phases in John Calipari’s first season, starting off 11-2 before losing their first five SEC games and then pulling it together late in the season with a Sweet 16 run. Four rotation players are back from that team, with Karter Knox ready to make the next step.”

No. 16 Illinois

The Schedule: Tennessee faces Illinois on December 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. ‘Music City Madness’ will be an 8 p.m. ET start on ESPN.

ESPN: “There’s going to be a noticeable Balkan influence on the Illini this season, with Brad Underwood likely to start up to four players from the region, and a fifth coming off the bench. Kylan Boswell and Tomislav Ivisic return as starters, and the Illini’s biggest addition from the portal is former California wing Andrej Stojakovic.”

No. 17 Auburn

The Schedule: Auburn and new head coach Steven Pearl will come to Tennessee on January 31 in an 8:30 p.m. ET start on ESPN.

ESPN: “Truthfully, we didn’t know how far to drop Auburn after Bruce Pearl’s sudden retirement last month. The team remained intact, and his son Steven Pearl is expected to lean on what should be a very talented top end of the roster. Moreover, he coached the defense while Mike Burgomaster was the offensive coordinator, so the system should remain fairly similar.”

No. 19 Alabama

The Schedule: Tennessee plays Alabama twice, going to Tuscaloosa on January 24 in an 8:30 p.m. ET start on ESPN or ESPN2 and hosting the Crimson Tide on February 28, starting at either 6 or 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN or ESPN 2.

ESPN: “Alabama already suffered an injury issue in the preseason, with Miami transfer Jalil Bethea undergoing surgery on his left foot. Could Bethea be replaced in the lineup by Latrell Wrightsell, who missed most of last season with a ruptured Achilles? The bright spot for this team should be the backcourt duo of Labaron Philon Jr., a potential top-20 pick, and Aden Holloway.”