Where Tennessee basketball is ranked in updated Associated Press Top 25
Tennessee basketball is ranked No. 10 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25, dropping four spots after going 0-2 last week, losing to both Vanderbilt and Missouri on buzzer-beating shots.
The Vols (19-6, 8-4 SEC) host new No. 1 Alabama (22-3, 12-0) on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) inside a sold-out Thompson-Boling Arena.
Vanderbilt’s Tyrin Lawrence hit an open corner three as time expired at Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday to give the Commodores a 66-65 win after a defensive breakdown by Tennessee on the final possession. Missouri got a long, running three in desperation as time expired Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena to win 86-85.
The Vols are ranked No. 3 in the NET, with a 4-2 record in Quad 1 games. They’re 4-4 in Quad 2 games and a combined 11-0 in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games. The next closest team in the NET with four Quad 2 losses is No. 61 Seton Hall.
Vols looking to bounce back from three losses over last four games
The back-to-back losses at Vanderbilt and against Missouri were Tennessee’s first consecutive losses over the last 59 games, dating back to the loss to Alabama in the 2021 SEC Tournament, then the loss to Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It was the first time Tennessee had lost two straight games by a single point since December 2010 and the first time the Vols had done so in SEC games since February 1981.
The Vols are down to No. 5 overall in the KenPom.com ratings. They have been ranked No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency for the last three months and are No. 52 in adjusted offensive efficiency after scoring 85 points Saturday night against Missouri.
Up Next: Tennessee vs. Alabama, Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Tennessee entered the weekend as a No. 2 seed according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. He had the Vols as the No. 7 overall seed, behind Purdue, Alabama, Houston and Arizona, the No. 1 seeds, and Kansas and UCLA on the No. 2-seed line.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello dropped Tennessee five spots to No. 11 in his power rankings on Monday.
“Well, we can’t blame the offense this week,” Borzello wrote. “Tennessee dropped both of its games in heartbreaking fashion, losing on buzzer-beaters at Vanderbilt and then at home to Missouri. Surprisingly, it was the nation’s top-ranked defense that showed cracks. The Commodores and Tigers shot a combined 24-for-51 from 3 against the Vols, 47.1%.
“For the season, Tennessee ranks No. 1 nationally in 3-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to make just 24.2%. The two opponents also turned it over just 15 times combined in the two games; Tennessee is in the top 20 in the country in defensive turnover percentage.”
Andy Katz dropped the Vols eight spots to No. 11 in his Power 36 for NCAA.com.
“Rough week for the Vols,” Katz wrote, “losing at the buzzer TWICE.”
